A gang of thieves was caught on CCTV cameras “steaming” an Oxford convenience store, distracting staff and grabbing stock before making their getaway.

The four men and four women went into Daudhar News, in Horspath Road, Cowley, at about 2pm yesterday.

The CCTV tape shows them distracting staff by grabbing food, while others tried to get into the flat upstairs.

When one of the women was seen leaving the flat over the family-run shop, staff tried to stop their escape.

But the thieves forced their way out and got into waiting cars but dropped the items they tried to steal.

Manager Jagat Daudhar said: “They were asking the staff lots of odd questions, saying ‘help me with this’ and ‘I don’t speak English’.

“They got all the staff busy and I got called to come out and help.

“They were dragging staff left, right and centre, asking strange questions, seemingly to distract us so the women could sneak out the back.”

One woman got into the flat, Mr Daudhar added. It is believed she fled when disturbed by his eight-year-old son, who was upstairs at the time.

When Mr Daudhar’s sister spotted the woman leaving the flat, she raised the alarm.

Mr Daudhar added: “My sister was coming back at the time and she saw a woman leaving our flat and ran in telling us to phone the police.

“We realised what was happening and I tried to grab one of them and said I was going to call the police.

“But they all ran out of the shop with goods in their hands and baskets filled with food.

“Two cars came flying round the corner and the doors and boot swung open.

“Everybody jumped into the cars and drove away.”

The gang dropped the stolen goods in their haste to get away.

Mr Daudhar added: “You can see on the camera that if we hadn’t confronted them, they would have got away with stock.

“But I’m more terrified about what happened or could have happened off camera when one of the women was in the flat where my son was.”

Pc Waifan Yeung said: “It would appear that this group was attempting to distract the shop assistant in order to steal from the shop.”

Anyone who recognises any of the gang, or may have seen their cars in the area, should call Oxford police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.