A man from Germany stunned police authorities when he jumped on the roof of a stolen car and called police to provide information as the car thief sped off with him hanging on.

The 43-year-old father of two from the western town of Siegburg first called the police to inform them he had spotted the thief by his suspicious driving and was chasing him in his own car, despite having his wife and two young children with him.

According to Reuters, the thief's journey came to a brief halt after the man stopped the thief by crashing into the stolen car. The move slightly injured his wife and one of the children.

However, the 29-year-old thief again started the car and drove off, but the man acted by jumping onto the roof instantly.

"The witness held onto the roof of the vehicle, phoned through his position to the local station and audibly attempted to pacify the car thief," police said in a statement.

The thief gave up after driving about half a mile and let the man climb down. The crook was then held over by traffic police.