A MOTORIST is appealing for help tracing his car which was stolen after it had been valeted.

The incident happened when owner Aakil Patel went to pay for the work at a car wash in Endon Street, Bolton.

Mr Patel said he had left his Audi A3 for no longer than a minute when the thief struck on Tuesday.

Now, the 25-year-old, who lives in Heaton, is hoping someone knows where the vehicle, registration RF61 HHK, might be.

He said: “I had saved up for the car which I bought last February and am just hoping someone might have some information about where it is.

“I was shocked when it happened. I never normally leave my keys in the car - I had just gone in to pay at the office which was no more than a few metres away.

“I think whoever did it must have been watching.

“I only took it in to have it cleaned because there was chocolate on the seats.”

Mr Patel, who is studying electrical engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University, added: “I am a student but I also work and need the car to get there.

“For my early shift my mum is having to take me and then I have a friend who can give me a lift.”

In an effort to find the car, a nearby business has released CCTV footage of the incident, and Mr Patel is hoping it may jog someone’s memory.

Motorist reunited with Audi stolen from car wash on Eldon Street in Bolton

A spokesman from Greater Manchester Police said: “We were called just after 4pm to reports of a theft of a motor vehicle from a car wash. An investigation has been launched.”

Anyone with information should ring 101.

or Crimestoppers quoting number 1383 and 28/02/17.