Police are urging the owners of top-of-the-range cars to be on the lookout for a gang of thieves who operate with split-second timing to steal vehicles.

Thieves have stolen high-value 4x4 vehicles in the past two weeks, while the owners stepped away for a few seconds as the engines were running.

A blue Range Rover worth £23,000 was stolen from Greetham, in Rutland, while the owner got out to open his driveway gate at 5.45pm on Wednesday. On November 3, a thief drove off with a car containing the driver's dog, while he checked a parking space he was reversing into in nearby Barrowden.

The owner of the vehicle, which was also towing a trailer, gave chase with the help of another motorist.

He gave up when his trailer and his dog were dumped.

Sergeant Helen Lodge, speaking about the latest raid, said: "As the owner opened the gate of his property, someone jumped in and drove off in it.

"We believe the vehicle was probably parked in the area for a period of time after it was stolen and it was last seen heading north on the A1 at Great Ponton, at 9.37pm, on Wednesday night.

"When the suspect reversed out of the driveway, he almost hit a large white van which had red writing on the side. We want to trace the driver of that vehicle. We are looking for witnesses who may have seen the Range Rover, registration FM51 FZP, parked up in the area after it was stolen, or for anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the Great Lane area of Greetham."

She said: "We urge owners at all times to take the keys out of the vehicle."