Liberal candidate for Thornlie Rob Coales chased a man making off with a trolley full of shopping allegedly stolen from Coles on October 18.
Mr Coales was on a walk through at Maddington Metro promoting his upcoming community forum dealing with consequences of methamphetamines on the community when he saw the man.
Mr Coales said he chased him for more than a kilometre.
“He left the trolley on the corner of Albany highway and Sampson Street,” he said.
“I told the Coles employee who was behind me to take the trolley and I continued running after him.”
Mr Coales, a former police sergeant and army reservist said 20 years of policing muscle memory kicked in.
“Before I knew it I was running down the street,” he said.
“In hindsight I probably should have done a few warm-up stretches.”
Mr Coales commended a woman in a red car who gave him a short lift over Albany highway during the pursuit.
Mr Coales said when he apprehended the man he handed him over to the police.
“Gosnells police were great,” he said.
“They responded quickly and efficiently, thanks to them and to the members of the public that helped me during the chase.”
More than $522 in goods was returned to Coles.
