A MOTORIST caught a would-be thief sat behind the wheel of his car.

The driver spotted the crook in the seat of his blue Subaru Impreza parked in St John’s Road, Grays.

He had his hands on the steering wheel and was trying to start the car, which had been left unlocked.

The victim grabbed the would-be thief, who struggled free and ran off.

The crook was white, aged 15 to 16 and wore a baseball cap and a red and black McKenzie jacket.

Witnesses to the incident, which happened at 7.35pm on Sunday, is asked to contact Grays police on 0300 333 4444.