Bystander rescues thief from burning car

A bystander bravely has rescued a driver from a burning car he crashed in Brisbane's north after shaking off a police chase.

The 29-year-old Brisbane man was allegedly caught stealing from a shop at Everton Park before jumping into a stolen car with police in pursuit on Friday morning.

Officers abandoned the chase when the man began driving dangerously, but seconds later he crashed into a brick wall.

A member of the public helped him to escape when the car burst into flames, police say.