Police arrested a 35-year-old man on Thursday after he was spotted allegedly stealing copper pipes from a school in Paphos.

The man was detained after he was seen by a school’s employee at the premises trying to remove the copper plumping pipes from a classroom around 1.40pm on Thursday.

Police called to the scene arrested the 35-year-old man, despite his attempt to flee on foot. He had a knife and a hammer in his possession, police said.

The suspect, who is Greek, is being investigated for burglary, theft, malicious damage, possession of dangerous instruments and for carrying a knife.