In a cheesy twist on an old tale, police in the US tracked down a a suspect by following a trail of nacho cheese.

Press-citizen.com reports officers were called to a the scene of a store break-in Iowa City on Friday night, and noticed a trail of snack food leading away from the building.

At the end of the trail was Francisco Jacob Munoz, 20, covered in nacho cheese and carrying two cases of beer.

According to the complaint, Munoz had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, impaired balance and smelled of alcohol.

Munoz allegedly threw a brick through the front door, causing $1,000 in damage.

He was arrested and faces charges of third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief, both Class D felonies; and a public intoxication charge, a misdemeanor.