AN opportunist thief smashed a car window and stole a woman's handbag from the passenger seat yesterday afternoon.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which occurred in Barrington Road, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham at 4.25pm.

A man who was seen loitering near the parked gold Peugeot 206 estate smashed the side passenger window, picked up an unattended large black bag, and calmly walked off with it towards Stephenson Way.

The bag contained £50 cash, a palm-sized JVC camcorder worth about £200 and various bank cards and a driving licence.

The man is described as white, aged between 16 and 20, slim, and clean-shaven.

He was wearing a dirty white t-shirt, white baseball cap turned backwards, and a pair of faded blue jeans.

Anyone with information about the man or the incident should call PC Pete Akiens at Newton Aycliffe police station on 0345-60-60-365, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

PC Akiens said the incident highlighted the need for people not to leave valuables on show in parked vehicles.