Mark Borowiecki plays defence for the Ottawa Senators, but he thwarted a different kind of score in Vancouver, according to police.

Borowiecki "wrestled a stolen bag" away from an unidentified person, who had taken it from a car, at around 1:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, according to a statement from the Vancouver Police Department. The suspect then fled on a bicycle.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened in the area of West Cordova and Granville streets, on the fringe of Vancouver's Gastown neighbourhood.

The Ottawa Senators defenceman says he came across a crime in progress in Vancouver and jumped into action to stop it. 3:12

No arrests have been made, and the bag was returned.

No further information was available.

"We are grateful for Mark's assistance and do recommend that if anybody does witness a crime to immediately notify the Vancouver Police and to stay safe," police wrote in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Ottawa Senators confirmed the story.

Borowiecki, an Ottawa native, was drafted by the Senators 139th overall in 2008 and broke into the league with the club in 2011.

He has 10 goals, 43 points and 620 penalty minutes in 349 NHL regular-season games, all with Ottawa.

Borowiecki, known to teammates as 'BoroCop', was named an alternate captain in September.

The Senators are scheduled to play the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.