Man robbed twice by same thief

Man robbed twice by same thief

The man was on the phone to the police when the laptop was stolen

A man had his laptop computer stolen twice within minutes by the same thief.

The victim had just driven off from his home in Great Bourton, Oxfordshire, when the robber struck at around 0800 GMT on Monday.

The 33-year-old motorist stopped at a junction near All Saints Church when a man came down the steps of the churchyard, opened the boot of the car and took his laptop.

The driver jumped out, and after a chase and scuffle, snatched the laptop back from the would-be robber.

Although the driver bravely tackled him, the robber seemed determined to steal the laptop at any price

Det Con Alan Hillsdon

The motorist returned to his car and called 999, leaving the computer on the seat beside him.

As he talked to police the robber returned, smashed the window and stole the laptop and the car keys and ran off.

The driver received slight cuts.

Police say the robber was described as black, aged between 20 and 35, about 5ft 10, of slim build with very short hair.

A villager told police he saw a man running along the main street towards a maroon car which then drove off towards the A423 Banbury to Southam road.

Det Con Alan Hillsdon said: "Although the driver bravely tackled him, the robber seemed determined to steal the laptop at any price.

"At eight in the morning many villagers will have been up and about and may have seen a black stranger lurking around the church, running along the road or an unfamiliar maroon car being driven through the village."