A DARING Alice Springs man attempted to do a grab and dash from the Liquorland at the Coles Complex - which had a police officer posted out the front.

A witness said the man ran straight out of the store, past the officer and turned the corner towards McDonalds.

The police officer gave chase but in a twist of fate, the man ran straight into a police paddywagon that was parked around the corner.

The witness told the NT News that only minutes before the incident, the police officer had been telling a couple from interstate why police were stationed outside of liquor shops in Alice Springs.