Footage shows the moment a brazen thief smashed the window of a BMW and made off with the steering wheel.

The images show a BMW parked on a drive in Princes Avenue in Walderslade, Chatham, when a white BMW 3 series pulls up alongside it, a man jumps out, smashes the driver’s-side window, fights to remove the steering wheel, before getting in the car and being driven off.

The incident takes just 25 seconds.

Mahbub Murshed, 40, was awoken by the alarm going off on his car, a BMW 440i.

He said: “I couldn't believe my eyes. I was in shock and stressed that this can happen.

“I couldn't sleep all night thinking about the incident. This has a huge emotional impact on me and my family.”

The strategic operations manager added: “M Sport steering wheels are very expensive and that's why they are targeting particular BMWs. Just parts for the steering wheel is about £3,600.”

The incident happened on July 6 and Mahbub has heard of two other incidents since then on the same street.

On July 23 Matthew Cornelissen’s BMW 3 series was broken into at about 11pm in The Tideway, Rochester.

The incident follows other cases of BMW steering wheel theft around Medway.

According to Kent Police, since June 22 more than 10 BMW cars have been targeted overnight in Gillingham, Rainham, Chatham, Rochester and Strood with, specifically, steering wheels and their attachments being taken by thieves who gain entry by smashing the driver’s side window.

A spokesman for Kent Police is warning residents to be on their guard.

Inspector Daniel Blatter, of the Medway Community Safety Unit said: “These thefts leave victims with a significant repair bill. In response, we have marked and unmarked patrols in these areas looking to stop and arrest suspects.

“In the meantime, I would advise car owners, particularly those with BMWs, to park their cars in a well-lit place, on a driveway, or in a garage, when not in use.

“If you see somebody acting suspiciously near a car and you think a crime is about to be committed, you should call 999.”

The police have suggested ways to avoid becoming a victim of crime including securing your car with a steering wheel lock, removing all valuable items overnight and have them `security marked’, and investing in CCTV and sensors which alert you when someone walks near your vehicle or enters the driveway

It is also not the first time Mahbub has been the victim of crime.

In March he was the victim of a random attack as he walked his young son to school near Huckleberry Close in Chatham at around 8.45am when a man came up alongside him and landed a blow to the right side of his face.

Mahbub said the unprovoked assault had an affect on him and his family, including leaving him too anxious to leave his home and getting nervous if his wife and son have to walk somewhere on their own.

He said: “We are worried to even go out these days.”

John Dalley, 22, was convicted of the attack and a similar assault on another man ran up to both his victims, including one father who was taking his child to school, and thumped them in the face.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 26 weeks for both offences, to run concurrently, having already served 14 weeks in prison.

Last year, BMW drivers in Chatham were also hit by a string of steering wheel thefts.

Anyone with information that may assist the police investigation should call 01634 792209 quoting reference 46/114701/23. Alternatively contact Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.