The managing director of Mainguard Security Services was driving home at 9.30pm on Jul 6, when he caught the thief in action along Haig Road.

For his public spiritedness, he will be presented an award later on Friday by the Security Association of Singapore (SAS).

Mr Kalastree told The Straits Times that he heard a woman scream and saw a man running away with her handbag.

He stepped on the gas and drove after the thief. A short distance later, he stopped the car and got out to give chase on foot.

When the thief climbed into a house in Thiam Siew Avenue, Mr Kalastree followed suit, hoisting all of his 87 kg over the 2m-high main gate.

Another motorist joined in the chase just as Mr Kalastree ran after the thief to the back of the house.

Just in time, Mr Kalastree was able to grab the thief by the leg, preventing the culprit from climbing over the fence into a neighbour's house.

A fierce struggle ensured but Mr Kalastree's training kicked in. He subdued the thief with a headlock and called the police.

He also asked the other motorist to remove the thief's belt and use it to tie his legs.

Mr Kalastree told The Straits Times: 'Thank goodness the police arrived in time as there was a chopper in the garden. The thief could have reached for it and caused me great harm.

'As it was, there was I, a 61-year-old man, who has seen better years in physical fitness, struggling with a much younger and fitter opponent,' he said.

The thief has been jailed for two years.

Mr Kalastree said that he had responded out of instinct. He did the same - 25 years ago.

In circumstances much similar, Mr Kalastree, then 36, jumped out his car and pinned down a snatch thief along Scotts Road in 1983.

'He too was arrested and convicted and I was commended by the Police Commissioner,' said Mr Kalastree.

The other public-spirited winner is Mr K. Mogan of Majesty Security Services.

The 42-year-old off-duty security manager was walking up the stairs at a Woodlands multi-storey car park at 2am on May 29 when he saw three teenagers climbing the gate to Si Ling Primary School.

Three other teenagers were already inside the school's compound and all had covered their faces with their T-shirts.

Although out-numbered, Mr Mogan raced down and was able to nab three of them for the police. The rest fled.

In all, about 20 security officers, managers and security agencies will receive SAS awards for outstanding performance from Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi.

Mr Kalastree, who is also the senior vice-president of SAS, said of the award: 'Not bad for a fat slob like me.-