A father and son received a shock after finding a suspected thief underneath their car when returning home from a run – just moments before they were threatened.

The pair found the suspect attempting to cut away what is thought to be their catalytic converter while the car was parked on Elm Road in Wisbech.

The incident quickly escalated when the suspect reportedly threatened the family with an electric saw before fleeing the scene with someone else.

“Just a quick heads up to car owners in the Elm Road area. My husband and son returned home from a run to find a man trying to cut off the back box from my car,” said the car owner.

“He threatened them with an electric saw and drove off; he was driving a beaten-up silver Corsa with a woman in the front seat.

“He was white, about 6ft tall with a winter hat with earflaps.

“The police don't seem to be interested even though threats were made and my car damaged. Please beware.”

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: "We were called at 12.18am this morning (December 31) with reports of suspicious behaviour on Elm Road, Wisbech.

"Officers attended the scene and conducted an area search but the suspects had left.

"A crime has been raised for theft of a catalytic convertor and is pending further investigative opportunities.

"Anyone with information should contact police via the web chat function on the website or by calling 101 and quoting reference 35/87954/20"