A luckless car thief who tried to carjack an off-duty cop in an unmarked police car has been seized for attempted robbery.

Suspect Mark Tannen, 22, wrenched the door of the police car open and ordered the officer to get out in the incident in Newark, in the US state of Delaware, on Tuesday, 4th April.

But after the cop explained who he was, Tannen fled but was caught and arrested within minutes.

Moments earlier he had tried to steal another car but the owner shoved him out of the vehicle and locked the doors.

Newsflash obtained a statement from the Newark Police Department on Wednesday, 5th April, saying: “On April 4, 2023, at about 2041 hours, Newark Police responded to the unit block of East Main Street for a report of a carjacking that just occurred.

“The victim reported that while in his vehicle, a male suspect came up to him, opened his car door and ordered him to exit the vehicle while forcibly trying to remove him from the vehicle.

“The victim was able to get the person off of him and lock his doors.”

The statement continued: “Minutes later, an off-duty Newark Police Officer – driving an unmarked police vehicle – was stopped on East Main Street a few yards away.

“A male suspect came up to his vehicle, opened the door and ordered the driver (a police officer) to exit the vehicle.

“After the officer identified himself, the male suspect fled and the officer pursued him on foot.

“With the assistance of other officers, the male was taken into custody without incident.

“The male was also identified as being involved in the first attempted carjacking.

“Neither victim was injured and no weapon was displayed.”

The police said that Tannen was charged with two counts of second-degree attempted robbery.

His bail was set at USD 5,000 (GBP 4,000) and he was detained at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington.