A homeowner chased a man who allegedly broke into his Picnic Point house, forcing him to jump into the Georges River to escape.
Police said the homeowner pursued Sam Barbour, 40, after he discovered his Henry Lawson Drive property had been broken into when he returned home on Friday afternoon.
Mr Barbour ran through a nearby park, jumped into the river and swam away. He soon got into trouble in the water and swam back to dry land, where he was detained, police said.
He was charged with break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Mr Barbour did not apply for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Mark Shepherd in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
He will appear before Burwood Local Court on February 5.
