A Londoner thwarted an attempted raid on his home by teaming up with police to search for suspects.
The risk analyst, who asked not to be named, was coming home from work when he spotted a man riding off on a bike he believed was his.
He snatched a picture on his mobile phone before rushing home, fearing his house had been ransacked.
He contacted police but moments later, the gang returned, kicking in the front door and stealing two more bicycles.
He said: "I reported it to police, and as I reported it about an hour after I heard shouting - they’d come back for more bikes and kicked in the front door."
The police arrived shortly afterwards, and the victim joined them in their van and tracked down a suspect after five minutes.
“I jumped in the back,” he said, “and I saw a guy riding [what looked like] my housemate’s bike.
“The van stopped in front of him and he couldn’t get round it. He couldn’t stop and hit the van.”
The gang had already disposed of two of the bikes but one was recovered.
“The police were great,” he added. “They knew what to do.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said one man was arrested.
"The arrest and charge followed a report of three bicycles stolen in Leytonstone on Tuesday, December 1.
"The arrest was the result of one of the victims being taken for a 'ride around' by officers from Waltham Forest.
"The man who was arrested, who was riding a bicycle, was in collision with the police van in Victoria Road, E11. He did not require medical treatment."
Aaron Leroy Da Costa, 28, of Pearcroft Road, was charged on Wednesday with two counts of handling stolen goods.
He was bailed to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on January 4.
