A THIEF posing as a customer roared out of a car dealer's in a powerful BMW, ramming open the forecourt gates and narrowly missing a passing cyclist.

The owner of the dealership had pushed the gates shut to block the car but had to leap out harm's way when the driver refused to stop.

The drama began when a man phoned BKG Motor Vehicles in St George's Square, Droitwich, asking if a blue BMW 525 Sport Auto on sale for £9,990 was still available. He later visited the dealership to see it.

The owner of the dealership was involved with other customers when the man, who was of Asian origin and in his 20s, arrived. So he moved the car closer to the showroom to keep an eye on it while the customer' viewed it.

When the bogus buyer asked to hear the engine, the dealer started it and both men went to look under the bonnet.

The man then sat in the driver's seat while the dealer walked round to the passenger side to get the logbook. The driver then shut and locked the doors and reversed out of the forecourt.

The dealer ran to push the gates shut, but had to jump out of the way as the BMW was driven into them.

One of the gates sprang open and the driver sped through - narrowly missing a passing cyclist - before making off towards the A38.

The car had serious damage to its front end, and the price tag was still in the window, so it would have been hard to miss when being driven afterwards.

Anyone who saw the incident, knows the whereabouts of the car - registration Y645XAN - or has any other information should call police on 08457 444888, or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.