SCREEN tough guy Tom Hardy nabbed a thief after a Hollywood-style chase in the street.

The Taboo star, 39, sprinted after the crook, who crashed a stolen moped and fled.

10 Actor Tom Hardy nabbed a thief after a Hollywood-style chase in the street Credit: Xposure

A witness in Richmond, London, told yesterday how screen hardman Tom Hardy chased a thief through gardens and across a building site — before proudly announcing: “I caught the ****.”

He said Tom flew after the yob, who had crashed a stolen moped then fled.

The Legend, Batman and Taboo star vaulted walls as he sprinted after the crook — then grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and patted him down for concealed weapons.

10 The yob had crashed a stolen moped into a car after running a red light in Richmond, south London Credit: Ian Hillson

10 The route taken by Tom Hardy on the Hollywood-style chase

Arun Pullen, 22, said: “It was mental - like he’d switched to superhero mode in an action movie. Two boys on the nicked moped had jumped a red light and smashed into a car.

“Tom must have been walking down the road. He went off like a shot in pursuit and looked furious. If the kid had been dumb enough to resist I reckon Tom would have given him a good hiding.”

10 One onlooker said it was as if the Taboo star 'switched to superhero mode in an action movie'

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10 Witness Arun Pullen, whose garden Tom chased the thief through, said the actor 'clearly isn't a man you mess with' Credit: Ian Whittaker

Arun watched as the actor, who lives nearby in Richmond, South West London, hauled the runaway thief into a bus stop and patted him down.

He said: “The kid looked wrecked and in shock.

10 The stolen moped carrying two men crashed into a £50,000 Mercedes at a busy road junction inSsouth London Credit: Ian Whittaker

“Tom Hardy’s clearly not a man you’d mess with. I think he even checked the kid’s ID before cops took over.”

Arun said Tom used the C-word to describe the thief.

He added: “I asked Tom what happened and he told me he chased him through my back garden and caught him around the block — but the route was like an assault course.”

10 Tom chased the thief through gardens - a route onlookers compared to 'an assault course' Credit: News UK Newspapers Ltd

Tom, 39, told one onlooker: “This little s*** nicked something and now he’s got himself a ­broken leg.”

The stolen moped carrying two men crashed into a £50,000 Mercedes at a busy road junction on Sunday afternoon.

10 The site where Tom caught the crook and performed a citizen's arrest Credit: Ian Whittaker

Both thieves were injured. One was caught within moments but the other fled through gardens towards waste ground, where Tom caught up with him and made a citizen’s arrest.

Two suspects were arrested on suspicion of theft and taking a vehicle without consent.

10 Tom suspects were facing theft charges after Tom made a citizen's arrest on one Credit: Vantage News

Arun said: “Tom did the public a great service.”

Girlfriend Kalisha added: “I’m a big Tom Hardy fan and there was no mistaking him. He looked as mad as he does on telly.”

Tom Hardy’s spokeswoman declined to comment.