A US burglar has been identified by his dance moves.

''She looked toward the suspect and said, 'Signature dance move, what's that?' And he goes, 'That's my swag momma'; that was part of the, I guess, confession.''

The 16 year old from Texas was arrested after footage of him at the burglary - in which a vehicle was broken into - showed him performing a dance move, which was recognised by staff at Ball High School as the student is a keen dancer in the education facility's corridors.

Police captain Jeff Heyse told the Galveston Daily News: ''When we saw his moves, when we saw his swag, we immediately knew we were dealing with a smooth criminal.

''We went to his house, he was there; we showed his mother the video, his mother called him out to the living room.

''She looked toward the suspect and said, 'Signature dance move, what's that?' And he goes, 'That's my swag momma'; that was part of the, I guess, confession.''