Man 'stole, crashed' marked WA police car

A 39-year-old Perth man has been charged with a string of offences after he allegedly stole a marked police car earlier this week then crashed it moments later.

Officers were responding to a burglary in Cloverdale on Tuesday when the man allegedly stole the vehicle, collided with another car a short distance away then fled on foot.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told ABC radio on Wednesday the officer who drove the car had the key with him at all times and wrongly thought he'd turned off the ignition button.

Mr Dawson said the oversight would not be investigated internally as he preferred the officers were pursuing the alleged burglar rather than doing a "six point check" when exiting the vehicle.