DES MOINES, Iowa — Andrew Clark, a shopper at O’Reilly Auto Parts, sprung to action and detained an alleged shoplifter until authorities arrived on Monday.

Clark says he was shopping at the store when he felt called into action after an employee yelled for help.

“I heard the clerk, the store clerk yell, ‘Help, he’s stealing’. And I asked her who? And then I turn around and the guy come running past me and took off out the door and I seen where he was running. So I chased down after him and I caught up to him,” Clark said.

Clark said once he caught up to the man in the parking lot, a fight ensured.

“I grabbed a hold of him and tackled him and tossed him to the ground and held him and kind of put him in a hogtied position with his arms and his legs behind his back and just restrained him until the cops came there,” Clark said.

Several bystanders came to Clark’s aid and helped keep the man subdued until authorities arrived. According to a police report, Robert Allen was arrested and charged with 5th Degree Theft for stealing three flashlights from the O’Reilly Auto Parts located on 2700 E University.

Sgt. Paul Parizek with the Des Moines Police Department shared a statement with WHO 13 following the incident saying, “We encourage people to be the best witnesses they can be, call 911, and not to unnecessarily risk their own safety.”