A MAN was threatened with a gun in broad daylight when he tried to stop a thief stealing from his van.

The teenage crook used the black handgun to steal a satellite navigation system before riding off on a mountain bike.

Cleveland Police are eager to trace the thief, still believed to be in possession of the weapon.

The drama unfolded shortly after 10.15am on Tuesday when a 26-year-old plumber left his van on Moortown Road, in Saltersgill, Middlesbrough, while he was working nearby.

After hearing the alarm on his van he went outside to investigate and found a teenager breaking in to the vehicle.

The teenager smashed the van window and was leaning into the vehicle, pulling out the satellite navigation system.

When the plumber challenged him, the teenager pulled out a black handgun from inside his jacket and shouted expletives before riding off on a mountain bike - taking the satellite navigation system with him.

He was followed by another teenager, believed to have been acting as a lookout.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: "This must have been a terrifying experience for the van owner. Even if this weapon was a replica, the person brandishing it could find himself facing armed police. Guns of any kind are not toys and we are treating this matter very seriously."

The thief is described as white, skinny, about 18-years-old, with glasses and was wearing a green long-sleeved hooded jacket, dark tracksuit bottoms, with white stripes down the legs, and a dark baseball cap. He was riding a blue and silver mountain bike.

His accomplice is described as white, tall, skinny, and wearing dark clothes and riding a mountain bike.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Jason Arbuckle, of Middlesbrough police, on (01642) 303126.