A man dubbed a "homeless hero" after he tried to ram a shopping trolley into the terrorist in the Bourke Street attack is wanted for questioning over a spate of recent burglaries, police have revealed.

Michael Rogers, 46, drew widespread praise and the nickname 'Trolley Man" for pushing the trolley repeatedly at Hassan Khalif Shire Ali as the 30-year-old man attempted to stab police during the horrific incident last week.

'Trolley Man' Michael Rogers Luis Enrique Ascui

A crowdfunding campaign “Not all heroes wear capes” to thank Mr Rogers had raised more than $143,000 by Thursday evening.

Police revealed on Thursday evening that they wanted to speak with Mr Rogers over a series of burglaries that occurred in the St Kilda and CBD area and breach of bail conditions.

Investigators would not detail the dates of the alleged crimes, but confirmed the incidents had all occurred before the Bourke Street attack last week.

"Police are seeking the whereabouts of a 46-year-old man of no fixed address in relation to a number of recent burglaries in the Melbourne CBD and St Kilda areas and breach of bail conditions," police said in a statement.

In an interview with The Age earlier this week, Mr Rogers made no secret of the fact he'd fallen into a life of crime and had had a difficult relationship with police over the years.

Michael Rogers, 46, drew widespread praise and the nickname 'Trolley Man" for pushing the trolley repeatedly at Hassan Khalif Shire Ali as the 30-year-old man attempted to stab police. Supplied

He said he had been in and out of jail for two decades and had a long history of drug use.

“I haven’t had good experiences with police,” he said.

He lamented that his grandmother - the person whom he “loved dearly”, but disappointed constantly - was not alive to witness his selfless act.

Mr Rogers said she died in 2013 while he was serving a five-year jail term for aggravated burglary.

“She would have been exceptionally proud,” he said.

Mr Rogers said he had a public housing apartment, but for a number of reasons chose to be homeless.

He said at the weekend that he was "no hero" and was simply trying to help when he thrust the trolley at Shire Ali.

A video has captured the moment when a bystander hurled a supermarket trolley at the Bourke Street terrorist in Melbourne.

Pellegrini's Espresso Bar part-owner Sisto Malaspina was killed in the attack.

Tasmanian businessman Rodney Patterson, 58, and a 24-year-old security guard from Hampton Park, identified this week only as Shadi, were also injured and taken to hospital. Both victims have since been released.

Shire Ali died in hospital after being shot by police.

With Jewel Topsfield