BEIJING

A burglar who left a series of apology letters after breaking into apartments in northern China has been captured after being spotted sleeping on the 11th floor of a building. 

The Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported Tuesday that the suspect was caught sleeping on a landing in Hubei province, before it took policemen six hours to apprehend him when he climbed outside between the 10th and the 11th stories.

"Please don’t blame the security guards, they have it tough, too," the suspect wrote on a show box in a flat in Zaoyang city, according to the Chutian Metropolis Daily report cited by the Post.

“Nobody can do that good a job in fending off [burglars],” the note proceeded. “Sorry. I have taken drugs and there is no way out. I’m dying soon. Sorry, sorry, sorry.”

Another note written on an appliance manual in another flat said, “we’ve already watered your flowers,” before saying “sorry” three times.

The burglar reportedly told the Daily that he had written the notes "for fun".

A number of break-ins have occurred through the flats’ windows since June, residents told the newspaper, and the stolen items have included valuables like electronic devices and appliances, as well as milk cartons and cigarettes.