A MAN smashed the window of a van, after asking its woman driver to pull over, and stole cash.

The woman was left shaken after the incident.

It happened at around 10am on Tuesday, August 25 on Stockley Lane between Oakenshaw and Brancepeth, County Durham.

The victim, a 20-year-old woman, was driving a white Peugeot Partner van, when a man encouraged her to stop her vehicle. The suspect then smashed a window of the vehicle and stole a quantity of cash.

Detective Sergeant Gavin Wilkes said: “This was a nasty incident which left the victim very shaken. We believe at the time the theft occurred a dark coloured vehicle was passing the victim’s white van, which was stopped in the road with hazard lights on.

"We would particularly like to speak to the occupants of the vehicle that drove past, as we believe they may have witnessed the incident. We are also appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious to get in touch.”

Anyone with information should call Durham Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.