Southern District Command Centre deployment co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, said police located the French tourist at a Wanaka backpacker accommodation and recovered about $1500 of goods taken from seven Wanaka stores.
The goods included a wallet, clothing, alcohol and food, Snr Sgt Benn said.
The man was charged with shoplifting.
Gifted Design Store co-owner Carolyn Cruden said she was 20 weeks pregnant and had chased the man after a customer tipped her off he had taken a wallet from her Helwick St gift store.
After seeing the wallet in the man's bag, she chased him to the backpackers.
As Mrs Cruden gave chase, another Wanaka shop owner minded her store.
A Wanaka real estate agent who saw the chase called police, Mrs Cruden said.
''It wouldn't have happened if the other two hadn't helped out.''
