Police said a 34-year-old Makakilo man was instrumental in thwarting the theft of his motorcycle yesterday morning.

The man told police he saw two men take his motorcycle from the carport at his home about 2:45 a.m., load it into a van and drive away.

The motorcycle owner followed the van — which turned out to be stolen — in his car until the van stopped several blocks away.

The two men got out of the van and ran while the motorcycle owner stayed with the van.

Police arrived and arrested a 19-year-old Kalihi man who had been a passenger in the van at the intersection of Anipeahi Street and Makakilo Drive. Police booked him on suspicion of unauthorized control of a vehicle, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree theft. The van's driver was not found.