A DOZY thief attempted to knock a CCTV camera out of view - only to put it into a better position to catch him breaking into cars.

The middle-aged criminal pushed the high definition security camera outside Bidford MOT as he smashed car windows and stole four wheels from a brand new hire car.

The theft has caused over £2,500 worth of damage which "could ruin" a small business said owner Huw Lewis.

But the business owner hopes that, thanks to the thief's actions, someone may recognise him from the crystal clear footage.

Mr Lewis said: "He was absolutely brazen.

"He had tried to move the cameras by giving them a little poke - he probably thought it had taken them off him but if anything he got them into a better position.

"Idiot thief moves camera into a better position to catch him in the act - you couldn't make it up.

"Thanks to him we have got incredible footage.

"Hopefully someone will recognise him."

The man looks to be in his mid-50s and was wearing a dark cap with a logo and struck in the early hours of Thursday morning (June 9) at the garage in Beech Tree Park, Bidford-on-Avon.

He was wearing a dark baseball cap with a logo which staff found discarded along the road and is now with police forensics.

Mr Lewis believes the thief has knowledge of the motor trade.

"I got in Thursday morning and found he had smashed a window on the car, taken the wheels and smashed the window of another car to steal a jack and tools.

"The person obviously knows what he is doing because he must have known new cars don't have spare wheels and don't have any tools to take wheels off so he broke into another car to get tools to steal the wheels on the new car."

Warwickshire Police has confirmed they are investigating the theft but said there had no arrests yet.

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting crime reference number 74/9 June 2016.

Bidford MOT is offering a reward for any information which leads to a conviction.