Mr Conway and his daughter Nicole's dog, Daisy, have won praise from their family.

Mr Conway was "embarrassed" by the attention when contacted by the Telegraph last week.

"I was woken up about 2am by Nicole's fluffball dog that wouldn't shut up," he said.

"I knew something was wrong when I heard the neighbour's dog barking [too] and saw a guy running from the car.

"I put on my runners and jacket and gave chase.

"I wasn't scared. I was just thinking 'someone had the cheek to break into the car'.

"As I caught the guy, the police arrived and took over.

"I didn't think anything of it, but Nicole seems to think it was a big deal. The guys at the [local] footy club are never going to let me live this down."

Sunbury police information officer Angela Mitchell said police arrived on the scene after Mr Conway apprehended the man.

Another man was tracked to a nearby house with a sniffer dog.

Constable Luke Byron of the Broadmeadows police said two men were charged last Wednesday with 40 counts of thefts.

A 21-year-old Sunbury man was remanded in custody and another 19-year-old Sunbury resident was released on bail.

More than 40 cars parked on residential driveways were broken into in various streets over the past two weeks.

The thefts began on the weekend of June 12 on Mitchells Road and Wilsons Lane, followed by Gap and Reservoir roads and other streets in Sunbury a weekend later.

"Sunbury has been hit quite badly by the thefts. Hopefully, we will see a reduction," Constable Byron said.

Mostly satellite tracking devices and cash were stolen.

"These were mostly opportunity thefts, with the majority of the cars left unlocked. Residents need to check their cars before they go into their houses."