An ice cream seller was threatened with a knife before a gang of men stole his van yesterday.
The victim was driving to Southbourne, near Chichester, when a black Ford Escort stopped in front of him.
He assumed the four occupants wanted to buy ice cream but one of the men entered the van and forced the victim at knifepoint to get out before driving his vehicle away.
The ice cream man, who was unhurt, had to walk a mile to call the police.
The ice cream van is green and yellow with a sign saying "Verrossi".
Detective Constable Duncan Peake said: "The robbers may have gone on to empty the van of its ice cream or even go on to sell it.
"We are keen to talk to anyone who may have seen these men acting suspiciously in the area, or have seen the ice cream van since."
Any one with information should contact police on 0845 60 70 999.
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