A robbery was reported early Thursday morning at the Battery Hotel, in downtown St. John's. A robbery was reported early Thursday morning at the Battery Hotel, in downtown St. John's. (CBC)

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said a guest at a hotel in downtown St. John's detained a suspected thief who had tried to steal a large sum of money.

A guest at the Battery Hotel called police at 4:43 a.m. to report that money had been stolen from the guest's room.

"The owner discovered the theft and was able to detain the suspect for police," police said in a statement.

A woman, 20, was taken into custody and faces a charge of theft over $5,000. She was expected to appear in provincial court in St. John's on Thursday.

The woman is believed to have been a friend of the hotel guest.

Police did not disclose how much money was involved in the incident.