12:00a.m. 29th August 2008

| By Amy Remeikis

Nick Potter with a fingerprinted laptop and other returned stolen items that were allegedly in the hands of two men he helped police catch. Photo: Michaela O'Neill/177945

As a personal trainer, Nick Potter is used to running.

He just never thought it would be after burglars.

The 31-year-old and his girlfriend had enjoyed dinner at the Alex Surf Club and arrived home a little after 8pm on Wednesday, when they allegedly spotted someone moving around the living room.

Nick knew his girlfriend Hayley’s home was supposed to be empty, so while she dialled 000, he ran in to confront the alleged robbers.

“I just ran in and chased him out of the house,” Nick said yesterday.

“He ran over the back fence and did the bolt, but then I saw him a couple of minutes later. I just saw him walking past the front of the house.

“So I chased him and caught up to him and grabbed him, then the police turned up and took him away. I just couldn’t believe his nerve.”

But the drama wasn’t over, with Nick spotting the man's alleged accomplice just minutes later.

“I saw him and then chased after him and the police came running up behind us,” he said.

“We found him hiding behind a car. So the police got him as well.”

The pair had allegedly already taken a laptop, an X-Box game console, jewellery and DVDs from the home Nick’s girlfriend shares with her brother and police believe the pair were on their second trip when the couple arrived home.

While police don’t encourage members of the public endangering themselves by taking on criminals by themselves, Nick said he just reacted.

“I was just so angry that they were doing that,” he said.

“Once that first guy ran away, I wasn’t going to chase him over fences or through people’s backyards or anything like that, but when I saw him walking past the house again I just couldn’t believe it. I just gave chase.”

Nick praised the police for their quick response and he also wanted to thank the neighbour who called the police moments before the drama unfolded.

“Their dog was going crazy, so they called the police and said something was happening next door,” Nick said.

“It was probably two minutes later that we came home and Hayley called them (the police) to say what was happening so I think it was both calls so close together which helped get the police here so quickly.

“I’m just glad it all worked out and they got their stuff back.”

Two men have been charged with breaking and entering and are due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court in the coming weeks.