A Perth plumber's birthday beer run took an unexpected turn when he intervened in an alleged theft, ultimately detaining the suspect after the getaway vehicle failed to accelerate.
Adam Breen, 28, was at a Dan Murphy's store in Carine, a suburb north of Perth, on Saturday when an individual allegedly stole six bottles of spirits. The suspect then reportedly attempted to flee in a grey Mazda that had allegedly been stolen earlier the same day.
Mr. Breen filmed the Mazda as it slowly exited the store's parking lot, leaving skid marks as it struggled over a speed hump. "You are joking me... you are taking the piss. This is gold," Mr. Breen was heard saying in the footage.
The vehicle, described as having no number plates, a missing left-side mirror, and a battered bumper, eventually came to a stop in the right lane of Beach Road. The driver, clad in a yellow shirt, exited the car, prompting Mr. Breen to shout, "I reckon you're pretty good at running."
Mr. Breen stated that the driver "obviously had the handbrake on and he drove across the street before jumping out and trying to break into more cars." He then pursued the suspect, who had run toward a park where families were present. "There were kids over there, so I went and grabbed him and took him down," Mr. Breen told news.com.au.
Mr. Breen, who has trained in Muay Thai, managed to perform a citizen's arrest before police arrived. He sustained a black eye during the scuffle, reporting that the suspect swung at him. "As I've gone to grab his neck again, he's just belted me, and the cherry on top was that he s**t himself, he soiled his pants," he told 7News.
Mr. Breen shared a photo on Instagram of himself restraining the man. The owner of the Mazda later contacted Mr. Breen to offer a drink, and Dan Murphy's provided him with a complimentary six-pack of beer. Social media users praised Mr. Breen's actions, with comments referring to him as "the f***ing man" and "Australian of the Year."