Clarkson Senior Sergeant Stephen Foley said a witness called police about 5.30pm on December 1 after seeing a man at a Wallis Avenue house in Clarkson.
“He jumped on to the roof of the house, then he jumped on to a second house,” he said.
“A member of the public had seen him run over to Melbourne Loop, where he stole a tradie’s Isuzu ute.
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READ NOW“Not long after that, he had a minor crash in the stolen car with a member of the public.”
Sgt Foley said that person detained the man at the crash site on Santa Clara Crescent from about 7.40pm until police arrived.
“That’s very good work by the public in helping us apprehend this bloke,” he said.
“He is now remanded, thanks to the members of the public who took photos of him.”
Sgt Foley said police executed a search at a house on Palermo Court in Merriwa as a result of the arrest.
They charged a Merriwa man (26) with two counts of trespass, stealing a motor vehicle, reckless driving, stealing and having no authority to drive.
He is also facing a breach of bail charge in relation to other offences and is due to appear in Joondalup Magistrates Court in January.