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.

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.

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

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.”

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

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.