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A man has been caught on camera clambering over cars, smashing a window and stealing a wallet in a brash theft in Hanham.

The footage was captured at about 4.40am on Monday, June 12, by CCTV cameras attached to the owner's home.

The thief can be seen arriving on the scene on a bike wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a hooded top, with the hood down, and carrying a satchel.

He sets about scouting a Ford, an Audi and two BMWs with a small torch.

The offender shows a total disregard for the possessions of others as he leans his bike on the Ford before putting his hands, arms and face all over the windscreen as he attempts to peer inside with his torch.

(Image: Kris Catley)

He does the same to an Audi in the driveway and the two BMWs parked in front of the property before picking up his bike and cycling off around the corner and out of sight.

Three minutes later the thief re-emerges, this time with a hat on.

He immediately targets the Ford Focus ST3 where it seems he spotted something on his initial visit, once again resting his bike on the car.

Double-checking for valuables, the offender climbs completely onto the car - putting his full bodyweight on the bonnet - but miraculously the alarm doesn’t sound.

(Image: Kris Catley)

The thief hops down before removing tools including a screwdriver from his pocket and begins dismantling the window.

He eventually gains access and can be seen leaning into the car, at which point the car’s alarm finally goes off.

Holding something black in his hands, the burglar grabs his bike and makes a swift exit.

The CCTV footage and pictures of the resultant damage were shared on social media by the car’s owner, Kris Catley, in an appeal for information.

The Facebook post has racked up 2,400 shares and 310 likes while the CCTV footage has received an incredible 374,500 views.

The owner’s friends and family expressed outrage at the actions of the brazen criminal, with one commenter writing: “Wow. What a vile human. That actually made me feel sick.”

Mr Catley revealed it was his wallet that had been stolen from the Ford, but it appears the social media attention proved too much for the thief.

Mr Catley claims that on the very same day the offender returned his wallet and said he didn’t want any trouble – having apparently buried the stolen item in someone’s garden further down the road.

Mr Catley revealed he was already aware of the thief’s name and address before his Facebook friends named and shamed the man they believed to be the offender as they sought vigilante justice.

Others accused the man of similar offences in the area and claim to have seen him in the Hanham and Kingswood areas in an intoxicated state.

The incident was reported to Avon and Somerset Police.

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle. He remains in police custody.