POLICE are appealing for information following the theft of a brief case containing thousands of pounds from a Pickering man.

Officers said the victim’s hand was run over as he tried to prevent the thief escaping.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said that at around 1am on Tuesday, a local business owner was returning to his home in Crofts Avenue when, after parking his van, a man wearing a balaclava approached the vehicle and snatched the briefcase from the boot. “The victim chased the thief as he escaped along Crofts Avenue, down Hawthorne Lane, through an alleyway and into a waiting vehicle parked on Eastgate,” he said.

“The vehicle, a maroon-coloured saloon car, similar to a Ford Mondeo or Focus, then sped off in the direction of Scarborough, via Forest Road. The victim tried to prevent the assailants from escaping and as a result suffered injury to his right hand as the vehicle ran over it.” The thief is described as male, around 5ft 9in and of slim build. He was wearing dark coloured clothing with a black balaclava covering his face. He was also wearing a dark-coloured hooodie pulled up over the balaclava.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or can provide any information to get in touch by calling 0845 60 60 247, or by passing information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.