A Perth man has been arrested after he allegedly broke into a house and put on a fancy dress costume he found while rummaging through the owner's belongings.

Police said the 32-year-old man entered the house on Brown Street in East Perth through an unsecured garage door just before 7:00pm on Friday.

The man allegedly stole several items and found a fancy dress costume of a Roman soldier, which he put on.

He ran from the property after being disturbed by the home owner and was caught a short time later by members of the public.

The man has been charged with several offences including aggravated burglary, stealing and possession of tools to break into a house.