THE HAGUE: Dutch police have finally cracked the case of a petrol station robbery nearly a decade on after the thief handed himself in, apparently wracked by a guilty conscience.

The cold case dates back to Jan 18, 2016. A robber stole a few hundred euros from a petrol station inthe southern Dutch town of Terneuzen. The cashier was able to give a detailed description of the thief and police opened an investigation, but could not find their man and the case remained unsolved.

`Until now,` police reported in a jubilant statement. `A 28-year-old man who now lives in Arnhemprobably had a guilty conscience and recently handed himself in to police in his hometown,` authorities said.

The man voiced regret for the crime and said he wanted to pay back the cash. Prosecutors are now weighing how to proceed with the case.-AFP