Police are hunting a thief who pulled open a car door and snatched a handbag from the passenger seat before speeding off in a waiting vehicle.

The thief struck outside the Centre Point minimarket on Warren Lane, Eldwick, as a 35-year-old woman was getting into her car at about 6.50pm on Saturday.

Sergeant Allan Gee, of Keighley police, said: "While the woman was getting into her car, which was parked outside the shop, the suspect opened the front passenger door, reached in and took a handbag from the seat.

"He then closed the door, ran off across the road and drove off at speed in a waiting vehicle towards Gilstead.''

The stolen bag was later found dumped in the Leeds-Liverpool Canal near Dockfield Road, Shipley.

The man police are looking for is described as white, aged 18 to 20, 6ft tall, slim and clean shaven with short, light brown hair and dark eyes. He wore a light coloured jacket and baseball cap with a square front.

The front seat passenger in the car was white, aged about 17 or 18, 5ft 6in and had short, mousey or fair hair with a fringe. A third man - white and wearing a baseball cap - was sitting in the back of the car.

The getaway vehicle is believed to have been a Cavalier-style car, possibly blue or white and with an S prefix on the number plate.

Anyone with any information about the theft is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Bingley police on 01274 537496.

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