TWO thieves unable to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission turned an attempted­ carjacking at Dee Why into a complete farce when they found they could not put it into gear.

The pair threatened a 28-year-old woman and forced her from her car — a white 2001 Holden Barina — as she was parked on the western side of Pittwater Rd at Dee Why, near the junction with Pacific Pde.

But the hapless thief who sat behind the wheel found he could not drive from the scene because he did not know how to start or drive a car with a manual transmission.

Frustrated at his own incompetence­ he and his accomplice­ quickly got out of the car and ran south in Pittwater Rd before disappearing from sight.

None of the premises along that stretch of Pittwater Rd have CCTV cameras pointing outwards and cameras on the eastern side of Pittwater Rd do not cover the western side of the road.

media_camera A 2001 Holden Barina

Now police are appealing for witnesses to the incident last Monday, which occurred about 8.30pm.

Northern Beaches Police crime manager Inspector Craig Wonders said the victim, from North Manly, immediately complied with the demand and the two young men got into her car.

She immediately dialled­ triple-0 and police arrived soon after.

Insp Wonders said officers canvassed the area and began looking for CCTV cameras in the area.

He said they had been forced to look further afield because no premises in the area had cameras pointing along the footpath.

The first offender — the one who sat in the driver’s seat and quickly found himself out of his depth — was described as being of caucasian appearance, about 18 years old, about 170cm tall, of slim build and with black, curly hair.

The second offender was only described as being of caucasian appearance and about 18 years old.

Both men were wearing black, hooded jackets.

Insp Wonders urged anyone who witnessed the incident or saw two young men running south along Pittwater Rd about 8.30pm to call Dee Why police station on 9971 3399 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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