SALT LAKE CITY — It was only the second day on the job for Joseph Rupp, but he was already turning heads with a heroic story.

The aspiring attorney recently started a new job as an apprentice at Fontenot Law in Bountiful, while he awaits his results from the Utah bar exam.

“There’s a lot riding on this,” Rupp said.

Rupp graduated from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in December, and for the last two months he’s been studying for the bar exam.

“It’s pretty grueling," he said. "Six hours of testing for two days straight."

Last week, he finally sat down at the Utah Bar Office to take it. But during Rupp’s 30-minute break outside in the parking lot, he noticed something strange.

“I was out in my car eating my lunch,” Rupp said. “When I saw him, I was like, 'He doesn't belong here.'”

He spotted a man rummaging through cars, on the prowl for property. Rupp snapped a photo, then chased after the man, who appeared to have stolen a computer and laptop out of a vehicle parked in the lot.

“I chased after him and he was running, but he wasn't running that fast,” Rupp said.

Rupp didn’t hesitate to take action. He said it’s an instinct that’s in his blood. Practicing law is his second career. In his first career, he spent 27 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I grabbed his arm and said, 'Give me the stuff back. Give me that computer,'” Rupp recalled.

The stolen electronics were recovered and given back to the rightful owner just in time for Rupp to finish the second portion of the exam. “It was really hard to concentrate for the next 100 multiple choice questions,” he admitted.

After Rupp retrieved the items, the man accused of stealing the goods fled before police arrived.

“I'm going to blame him and the person who left their car unlocked if I fail the bar. That will be my excuse,” Rupp said jokingly. He expects to learn the results of his test next week.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Salt Lake police at 801-799-3000.