Thief steals luxury car of Macedonian justice minister

A thief made off with the justice minister's official car over the weekend after spotting the vehicle, left with the keys in the ignition, outside the ministry, authorities said Monday.

Justice Minister Mihajlo Manevski's bodyguard and left the luxury Mercedes unattended outside the building with its engine running on Saturday for a quick visit to a kiosk. The thief jumped in and drove the car away, police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said on Monday.

The ignition had been left on "because the security guard wanted to preheat the car's cabin for the minister. The Mercedes disappeared within seconds," Kotevski said.

Police immediately informed border authorities and were interviewing witnesses, the AP reports.

Both car and thief were still being sought and the case investigated, Kotevski said.