It’s clear Tom Hardy has learned something from all those blockbuster action flicks he’s starred in after the British actor was spotted catching a real-life villain.

The 39-year-old showed some very impressive skills to catch a man who allegedly stole and crashed a moped with an accomplice in Richmond, in south-western London, on Sunday.

A witness told The Sun UK that the man fled but could not escape Hardy, who chased him across gardens and a building site before catching him, hauling him to a bus stop and patting him down.

“It was mental – like he’d switched to superhero mode in an action movie,” 22-year-old onlooker Arun Pullen said.

“Two boys on the nicked moped had jumped a red light and smashed into a car.

“Tom must have been walking down the road. He went off like a shot in pursuit and looked furious. If the kid had been dumb enough to resist I reckon Tom would have given him a good hiding.”

According to Mr Pullen, Hardy then yelled out: “I caught the ****!”

The alleged offender apparently “looked wrecked and in shock” after the incident.

Richmond Police spokesman confirmed the incident to the BBC.

“We can confirm that there were two people on a stolen moped that went through a red light and crashed into another vehicle,” a spokesman said.

“The males ran off and one was detained by Tom Hardy.

“Both suspects were initially taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.”

The other man was reportedly arrested by a police officer.

The suspects, both 16, remain in police custody and were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Hardy, who is himself a former car thief and joyrider, is a reformed drug addict who has become a Hollywood heavyweight thanks to performances in blockbusters like The Dark Knight, Mad Max and Inception.