Laurence Kemball-Cook, 39, was staying at his parents’ home near Canterbury, Kent, when he spotted an unknown man through the kitchen window.
The dad-of-one, from south London, had just been relaxing in the sauna, and so was only wearing a dressing gown at the time.
But he still raced into the house to confront the thief, who was clutching four bottles of wine and a speaker.
Soon after a chase ensued, and Mr Kemball-Cook was forced to perform a “flying rugby tackle” to apprehend him.
Police arrived seven minutes later to arrest the burglar, who was later identified as 40-year-old Damien Davey.
Davey pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed for 30 months during his sentencing at Canterbury Crown Court on July 7.
Recalling the incident, which took place on May 26, Mr Kemball-Cook said: “I had been in the sauna and I was walking back towards the house when, through the kitchen window, I noticed the silhouette of a man.
“I knew it wasn’t anyone I knew and I could see him rooting through the kitchen cupboards.
“So I ran around to the rear of the property and came up against him just as he stepped outside the back door.
“I was honestly in shock. I asked him, ‘What are you doing here?’
“He said: ‘Sorry I stole some wine’, so I said: ‘I want them back right now.'”
At this point, a lodger at the house – who works as a security guard – came into the kitchen.
Mr Kemball-Cook said: “He started checking him – as he could have had weapons. And I just thought: Am I going to just let him go? Is it okay that people do this?
“And I thought, ‘No, that’s not okay. I’m going to perform a Citizen’s Arrest.’
“It all happened so quickly.”
Mr Kemball-Cook announced to Davey that he was going to detain him.
This caused Davey to panic, and he broke free and sprinted away from the house.
But Mr Kemball-Cook, wearing a dressing gown and flipflops, decided to pursue him.
“I sprinted after him – but bear in mind I’m wearing flipflops, which aren’t great for running,” Mr Kemball-Cook said.
“I was holding distance but he was starting to get away and I just sort of dived towards him.
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“I used to play rugby and I haven’t committed to a dive like that since I was about 17.
“I did this flying rugby tackle and I connected with him in the air. We landed in a heap and rolled down the hill.
“And again, I’m wearing a dressing gown at this point.”
With the help of the security guard living at his parents’ home, Mr Kemball-Cook managed to detain Davey until police arrived.
It was later revealed that Davey had been sleeping in a bush at the bottom of the garden.
Davey pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary dwelling and theft, he has been jailed for 30 months.
