CCTV footage has captured the moment that a man walked up a driveway, opened the boot of a car and appeared to steal the contents inside.
Police were called to a report of a theft from a motor vehicle in Astley, a village between Wigan and Manchester, on New Year's Day.
A video recording, timestamped just after 6.45am, shows a man wearing a puffer jacket and carrying what appears to be a bag. He also has a hood and a mask, partially obscuring his face.
The man briefly glances at the CCTV camera but quickly turns away, before opening the Land Rover's boot and rooting around.
According to the owner of the car, the man stole a woman's coat and a pair of wellington boots.
The owner, who does not wish to be named, said: "He somehow got into the car, it looks like he had something in a pouch that's possibly getting the signal for the keys.
"Crime in the area seems to be on the up, especially people trying cars or breaking into them."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police added: "An investigation is ongoing and enquiries have established that the offender – believed to be a man – approached the car before stealing items from the boot.
"No arrests have been made."
Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 7252 quoting incident number 2528 of 01/01/20.
Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously via the independent charity on 0800 555 111.
