Adelaide neighbour foils burglary by setting dog onto thief

An Adelaide resident has thanked a neighbour who set his dog upon a home invader this morning and ensured the thief left empty-handed.  

The intruder entered Paul Downes' home on Wattle Avenue in Royal Park about 2am through an unlocked back door, and stole his wife's handbag.

Mr Downes, who was awake at the time, spotted the thief and chased him onto the street, sparking a scuffle.

"I saw him leaving the house with something in his arms and he ran, so I ran after him," Mr Downes said today. 

"He started swinging. We had a bit of a rough and tumble."

Resident Andrew Kahlbaum heard the commotion and came to his neighbour's aid, setting Pete the German shepherd onto the wannabe thief. 

The offender was able to escape, but lost the handbag in the process. 

"If I see him again he better be quick," Mr Kahlbaum said.

"Very, very quick, if he's going to outrun the dog."

The suspect is described as Caucasian, about 25-26 years old, 180cm tall, of a large build and was wearing a red top and dark coloured pants.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.