A man had his car stolen when he dropped his keys in a pub, but he had a tracker inside it that would help lead police to the alleged thief.

The man accidentally dropped his keys at a pub on the corner of Main North Road and Grand Junction Road, in the Adelaide suburb of Blair Athol, about 12.15am today.

Staff saw another man pick up the keys, leave the pub and drive away in the black Nissan Xtrail.

According to police, the owner realised his car was missing and was able to see its location due to a tracker inside it.

He provided officers with live updates of where his car was heading.

“The Nissan came into the CBD before heading back out north through North Adelaide and on to Prospect Road,” police said.

“PolAir was overhead by this time and tracked the car as it headed west through Woodville North and Ottoway, before travelling up the Port River Expressway doing a big loop through Parafield, Para Vista and back down to Holden Hill.

“PolAir directed patrols to Vale Avenue in Holden Hill where the Nissan parked and the driver got out.”

It was at this location that officers arrested a 36-year-old man from Kilburn.

He has been charged with illegal use of a motor vehicle and driving without due care and was bailed to face Adelaide Magistrates Court on May 2.