East Malvern: Man arrested by off-duty cop following allegedly stolen SUV crash

A man will face court after he was arrested by an off-duty police officer after he fled from an allegedly stolen SUV following a crash in East Malvern.

An off-duty police officer has pounced on a man who bolted from a crash scene in Melbourne’s inner east and was allegedly involved in stealing an SUV.

Two men were involved in a crash at the corner of Dandenong and Darling roads in East Malvern about 1.20pm on January 23.

The duo were in a Mazda SUV which allegedly went through a red light and crashed with a turning car.

They then ran off from the scene but were spotted by the off-duty officer on nearby Washington Ave, who arrested one of the men, believed to be the passenger.

Police believe the Mazda was allegedly stolen from a Mount Waverley home on January 18 and was seen driving erratically through Brighton later that day.

Officers have charged a 29-year-old man with a string of alleged theft offences and alleged possession of housebreaking tools.

The man faced Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning and was further remanded to appear again on Feburary 7..

The driver of the SUV is yet to be located, while the driver of the other car involved in the crash was uninjured.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage can phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.