A THIEF jumped behind the wheel of a van and drove off after a delivery driver left it idling as he popped a parcel through a door.

The van driver had pulled up outside a house in Armour Road, Tilehurst, for the delivery to be made.

As he knocked on the door to deliver the packet a man jumped into the van that had the key left in the ignition and the engine running.

The man called the police and the officers found the van with parcels missing in nearby Farm Drive.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "Offenders jumped in the white Transit van and drove off in it.

"Officers were called to the scene and carried out a full search of the area, discovering the van on Farm Drive, Reading, a short while after it was stolen."

*A 27-year-old man from Reading has been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and possession of cannabis. A 30-year-old man from Tilehurst has been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and theft of items from a motor vehicle.

Both have been released on police bail until 7 November.

by Sarah Lawrenced