Brazen thieves reached into a car to steal £900 in cigarettes as the driver and passenger waited in traffic.

Newsagent Raza Yusaf, 77, who runs The Chocolate Shop in Carshalton, was stunned when the thieves grabbed his goods from the back seat of his four door, black saloon car.

His passenger Robert Moore, 21, said the thieves bolted back to a small white ban behind them during the incident on Hilliers Lane, Beddington, on Wednesday June 24 at 1.45pm.

Mr Moore said his friend was shocked and upset by the theft.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it. It was so brazen and quick.

“We were just returning from the cash and carry and sitting in traffic when a suddenly reached in and grabbed the cigarettes, ran back to his van behind us and made off.

“By the time I had got my seat belt off he had gone.”

A police spokesman said the suspect was a white man aged 23-28.

Any witnesses should call Sutton Police Station on 0300 123 1212 quoting reference no: 4007898/0 9