Former footy star Saverio Rocca chases down brazen shoplifter at Northland

Saverio Rocca said he acted instinctively when he chased down a shoplifter who fled a store with clothes at Northland Shopping Centre.

Former AFL star and NFL punter Saverio Rocca has told how he chased down a brazen thief at a shopping centre on Sunday.

Rocca said his instincts kicked in when he saw a man stealing some clothes from JD Sports at Northland Shopping Centre.

“I saw a guy, maybe mid 20s, rip out clothes from a shop assistant and I said to the girl, ‘is he stealing that’ and she said yes,’’ Rocca said.

“I asked him to give them back and he said ‘nah, I’m leaving’ and he started running.

“Stupid me, I started chasing him and I was running out the door yelling a few F-words and I said ‘if I catch you I’ll fix you up’. He decided to drop all the clothes and said all right.

Retired footballers and brothers Anthony and Saverio Rocca. Picture: Mark Stewart

“We didn’t come in contact, we just exchanged a few words and I picked up the clothes and dropped them back. If he had have kept going I don’t think I could have kept up much longer.”

Rocca, 51, was a cult hero at Collingwood and North Melbourne after playing 257 games and kicking 748 goals.

He became the oldest player in NFL history to be rookie-listed at any club when he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007 and played seven seasons for the Eagles and Redskins.

“Afterwards I had to think about what I just did, because you don’t have time to think,’’ Rocca said.

“I’m just glad he didn’t have a weapon or a knife.

Sav said he “acted on instinct” in the heat of the moment event.

“I’m just sick of hearing all these stories that people are stealing. They said it happens all the time and it’s just happening everywhere.”

For his efforts Rocca was given a 40 per cent discount on a pair of sneakers.

His bravery comes after Carlton coach Michael Voss made a fearless citizen’s arrest in August.

Voss was hailed a hero for chasing down the teenagers who allegedly stole a Mercedes-Benz car and crashed it into a tree in Hawthorn near his local coffee shop.