A man fled a bank when he was questioned by an alert cashier who suspected the passbook he handed over was stolen.

The Halifax passbook was grabbed the day before when a thief sneaked into a private room in a newsagent in Kirkgate, Silsden, and snatched the book from a coat pocket.

A Keighley police spokes-man says: "The theft happened between 3pm and 5pm on Monday, and then someone used the book to try and withdraw money at the Halifax, in Low Street, Keighley, the following day."

The cashier recognised the book as being stolen and questioned the man who then fled the building.

He is described as white, in his late 20s with short short hair in a fringe. He was clean shaven, about 5ft 10in to 6ft tall, very slim and was wearing a blue denim jacket, a light coloured shirt and blue jeans.

If anyone saw a man matching this description in Silsden or in the vicinity of the Halifax, or has any information about the incident, they should telephone Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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