A suspected burglar made a bungled bid to flee during a police chase after bikes, watches and jewellery were seized in a "high-value" smash and grab.
A distraught home owner raised the alarm after returning home to find his house in Rainford ransacked on Tuesday.
After forcing entry to the house in Rookery Lane the raider or raiders took items including bikes, watches and jewellery in what Merseyside Police termed a "high-value burglary".
A few hours after the burglary police spotted a suspected stolen Ford Fiesta on Pennywood Drive, Whiston, believed to be connected to the break-in.
The driver of the vehicle tried to give police the slip near Whiston Station and a man left the vehicle on foot but was caught nearby.
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A Merseyside Police spoksperson said: "We have arrested a man on suspicion of high-value burglary following an incident in Rainford yesterday, Tuesday 6 April.
"At around 4pm, a man returned to his home on Rookery Lane to find that entry had been forced and a number of items stolen, including
"At 6.45pm, officers in the area spotted a suspected stolen Ford Fiesta on Pennywood Drive, Whiston, believed to have been involved in the offence.
"The vehicle attempted to evade officers near to Whiston Station and a man left on foot and was pursued and detained nearby."
A 35-year-old man from Preston was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary, disqualified driving; and driving without insurance.
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He has been taken to a police station for questioning.
Police said the car is believed to have been stolen during a burglary in Preston in February.
Detective Inspector Leanne Hobin said: “This was a smart piece of police work and our enquiries continue. We’ll continue to respond to all such reports of suspicious activity, stolen items for sale and ongoing incidents, and remove suspected burglars from the community.”
Suspect burglary where you are? Police say you can pass information via its social media desk @MerPolCC on Twitter, 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
Advice on how to keep your home safe can be found here: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/keep-your-home-safe/ and please follow our forcewide #OpCastle on social media for arrests, sentencings and advice about burglary.
