Advertisement

Golden opportunist steals $1.6m from the back of a lorry

A manhunt is under way for a thief who stole a bucket of gold flakes worth almost $1.6m (£1.3m) from the back of a lorry in New York.

Detectives believe the suspect, described as a Hispanic male in his 50s, did not know what was inside the container when he pounced on West 48th Street in Manhattan.

CCTV footage released by the New York Police Department shows the man approaching the open door of the truck while the driver retrieves his mobile phone from the cab.

He is seen helping himself to the aluminium container.

The man heaved the 40kg bucket up the street, taking an hour to complete what would normally be considered a 10-minute walk before hopping into a white van to make his getaway.

Police believe the suspect could be on the run in Florida.