Police have arrested a 30-year-old man after a tradesman’s Toyota van was allegedly stolen in Melbourne’s southern suburbs early this morning.

The tradesman had left the van running with its flashing lights on near the intersection of Toorak and Punt roads at about 3.15am.

Police allege an opportunistic thief jumped into the driver’s seat and took off towards Domain Road.

Officers quickly spotted the van allegedly running red lights along St Kilda Road as it continued south.

Police deployed a tyre-deflation device on Dendy Street in Brighton East, bringing the van to a stop on Ormond Esplanade.

A 30-year-old Kings Park man, allegedly the driver, was arrested without further incident and will be interviewed by investigators.