Man charged with stealing diggers' flowers

A western Sydney man is behind bars, accused of trying to steal Anzac Day flowers and wreaths from a war memorial.

Police allege the man was spotted at Railway Parade in Riverstone on Saturday morning bundling the tributes into a trolley.

Officers arrested a 25-year-old Cranebrook man at the scene.

NSW Returned and Services League president Don Rowe said the alleged attempt at theft beggared belief.

"I find it absolutely amazing that yesterday we as a nation paused to pay our respects, and now some person has decided he wants to help himself to the flowers," he told AAP.

The Cranebrook man was charged with stealing and failing to pay for a taxi fare, and will remain in custody before appearing at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

The wreaths and flowers have been returned to the war memorial.