A THIEF stole thousands of pounds from the back seat of a car parked in the Westgate while the driver was distracted by two women.

Gerrard McManus, from Horspath, was followed back to his car after visiting Barclays bank, in Cornmarket Street, Oxford.

Two women then distracted him whilst another got into the car and stole the money.

Mr McManus said: “They must have followed me all the way from the bank. It is intimidating to think that.

“I just do not want other people to get caught so easily.”

The 58-year-old was in the branch at around 2pm on Friday, July 8, and withdrew thousands of pounds from a cashier.

He walked back to the car park and noticed two women pointing at the back of it.

He said: “I thought I had a flat tyre or something, so I got out to look.”

The women ran off and he suddenly noticed some money on the ground and the interior light of the car was on, with the door ajar.

Mr McManus said he had “no hope” of recovering the money and had been shocked at the audacity of the crime.

He said: “I want to make other people aware they should be careful if they are taking out large sums of money.”

The Westgate had not commented by the time the Oxford Mail went to press.

Thames Valley Police said they were now reviewing the CCTV tapes.

A Barclays spokesman said: “We encourage our customers and staff to be vigilant at all times. The safety of our customers and staff is of utmost importance to us and we are working with the local police in their ongoing investigation.”

Contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.