POLICE are hunting a brazen thief who stole a minicab at a Bradford filling station.

Mohammad Gafoor, 33, was helping a woman passenger fill a petrol can up at one of the pumps at a petrol station when the silver Toyota Avensis was stolen.

Mr Gafoor's mobile phone, debit card, his wife's debit card and a fare float of £50 were all in the car.

The incident took place at the Texaco garage in Great Horton Road, Horton Bank Top, at about 1.30pm on May 1.

His passenger, who Mr Gafoor had picked up minute's earlier from an address in Queensbury, asked him to go to the petrol station to get some fuel in a can for her nephew, whose car had broken down.

She went into the petrol station's shop to buy the can, came out and asked Mr Gafoor to help her fill it up from the pump on the driver's side of the vehicle.

When Mr Gafoor got out, the male thief jumped into the car from the passenger side and drove off in it.

Mr Gafoor, of Heaton, who drives for Cue Cars, based in Queensbury, has not been been able to work since the theft which he said happened in seconds.

Mr Gafoor said: "This was the first time anything like this has ever happened to me.

"I was shocked. I could not believe it was happening. I'm waiting for answers now.

"I'm off work and losing out. I don't know when I will be back at work.

"It was quite brazen. It happened in a few seconds. It makes it even more shocking that it happened on a petrol forecourt and it was in broad daylight.

"The woman was screaming 'your car, your car, your car' and said my car had gone. My keys were left in the car while I helped the lady.

"I was just helping a lady out. We were right next to the car. We were standing by the driver's side.

"The person who stole my car came across on the passenger's side and went across and drove off.

"My passenger was sorry that it had happened too.

"I don't know when I will be able to get back to work."

An employee at the Texaco petrol station in Great Horton Road, who did not want to be named, said he was not there at the time the car was stolen but said it has happened at the garage before.

He said: "We have a clear view of the man who stole the car on our CCTV. It happened to someone else here a couple of months ago too.

"It is quite shocking to see it. It happened within two minutes. He came from outside the car and jumped in. I don't think it was planned but I don't know.

"The guy came from the passenger side of the car and went across and drove off."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed inquiries were ongoing into the incident and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information about the stolen Toyota, registration GY58 FYP, has been urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.