Life imitates an episode of T.J. Hooker:

FULLERTON - While police officers continue their search for the man who stole beer from a supermarket, they are still shaking their heads at the actions of a bold clerk who jumped on the hood of the thief’s car and rode several blocks before retrieving the stolen merchandise, Sgt. Mike MacDonald said.

The incident was first reported at 10:40 p.m. Thursday at Stater Bros., 333 N. Euclid St., when a clerk rounding up carts noticed a car backed into a stall with the engine running. Suspecting a theft in the making, the clerk, 49, ran into the store and saw a man grab a 36-pack of beer and run out the door, officers said.

When the thief jumped into the back seat of the car, the clerk followed and pounded on the window. The employee then jumped on the hood as the getaway driver took off northbound to Euclid Street and Malvern Avenue. MacDonald said the driver kept accelerating, and then hitting the brakes hoping to eject the clerk.

Finally, the car stopped four blocks north near Fern and Sierra Vista drives, where the clerk retrieved the beer, police said.

“Although we appreciate the enthusiasm of the clerk to detain the suspect, we don’t advise this type of action because of the risk involved,” MacDonald said.