A THIEF posed as a potential customer to steal a £17,000 BMW from a Radcliffe woman.

A bogus buyer turned up at Andrea Redman's home to view the car after she advertised it in a motoring magazine.

The man sat in the driver's seat and Andrea put the key in the ignition so that he could see the mileage.

But the thief slammed the door shut and and drove off.

The cheeky theft has stunned 31-year-old Andrea, who still has £15,000 to pay on the car. She said there was nothing about the thief's manner which made her wary.

"I never thought in a million years that he would have drive off. I feel physically sick and haven't been sleeping properly."

The incident happened when the man, calling himself Paul and from Farnworth, telephoned to say he was interested in the silver BMW 318 Coupe, registration X38 KOB, to buy for his girlfriend. He told Andrea he would visit her at 7.30pm.

Andrea and her 45-year-old partner Aidan Roberts moved their van, which was blocking the car, and placed the BMW on the road so that the man could take a proper look.

When the thief drove off, Andrea ran into the house to alert Aidan. They dashed out to find that the thief's red W-reg Rover had also gone.

Sgt Bill Crittenden, of Bolton Police, said: "We urge motorists to be vigilant and to be wary of allowing people they do not know into their vehicles. Private sales are never ideal because they are based entirely on trust.

"The best advice is to go to a dealer, to never allow anyone to drive their car alone and to use a bankers draft for the transfer of cash."

The thief was described as wearing dark jeans, a knitted jumper and Kickers-style black boots. He was around 5ft 8in, clean shaven, but with a bruised left eye, and had dark, cropped hair, speaking with a deep, gruff voice.

The incident highlights new methods being used by car criminals. Teacher Peter Swientozielszyj found his £29,000 Mercedes stolen from the Castle Leisure Centre car park after he was followed into the changing rooms where thieves broke into his locker and stole the car keys.