A BOY watched in despair as a thief rode off on his bike which he had taken from behind his back moments earlier.

The 14-year-old boy was waiting outside a Kidderminster shop for a friend when the thief struck.

The boy had put his bike on the ground for a few minutes, only two feet behind him outside Our Price, Worcester Street.

When he turned round the distinctive yellow bike was being ridden off in the direction of McDonalds.

The thief struck on Thursday, March 15 at about 5.15pm.

The bike, worth £180, was a Ruction TX5 2000 edition. It had a red and black saddle, red rubber handle grips and metal stunt pegs on the front and rear wheels.

Bike owners can protect against theft by having cycles marked with a special number.

At Sunday's cycle coding session at Stourport Police Station, owners can have their name and address entered on a police database at a cost of £3.

The event, which is run by the Wyre Forest Crime Prevention Panel, takes place between 10am and 1pm and is back by popular demand after more than 100 cycle owners had their bikes marked earlier this year.