A FAMILY run car wash has offered a £1,000 reward after a car it was cleaning was stolen after staff left it unattended with the keys in the ignition.

Cousins Hand Car Wash, based near Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, have shared shocking CCTV footage of an opportunistic thief who took the red Vauxhall Mokka in broad daylight.

The footage shows the car left unattended outside the car wash’s main building with its doors and boot open.

When staff leave the car, the thief, who had been watching from further down the yard, sneaks up to the car, driving it away with all of the doors still open.

It is not known how long the car was left unattended for.

The theft took place at around 3.40pm.

The car, which was stolen on Tuesday, has not been seen by anyone since, and now the owners of the car wash are issuing a desperate plea for the public’s help.

In a public Facebook post they wrote: “URGENT UPDATE, REWARD REWARD £1000, TO ANY ONE TO HELPING US FINDING THIS CAR.IS VAUXHALL MOKA REG NUMBER IS EJ64CLN.”

The car wash is a family run business, with one of the managers reporting that theft could cost them up to £9,000 if they can’t get it back and return it to the owners.

Essex Police have been informed and have confirmed it is investigating the theft

A spokesman for the police said: "We were called to reports of the theft of a motor vehicle in Basildon on Tuesday January 22.

"It was reported that a red Vauxhall Mokka has been stolen from outside a car wash in Orion Court at around 3.40pm.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.