Thief steals $1.6 million worth of gold from the back of a truck in New York

Police are hunting for a thief who swiped a bucket full of gold flakes worth $1.6 million off the back of a truck in the middle of Manhattan.

The NYPD has released CCTV footage of the unidentified man, who snatched the 86-pound (39kg) pail from the vehicle at the end of September.

Caught gold-handed: Police are looking for this man, who they say stole $1.6m of gold flakes. Photo / NYPD

It is believed that the guard briefly stopped watching over the truck and went into the truck's cab to retrieve his cellphone when the robbery took place, the Daily Mail reports.

It happened in broad daylight on West 48th Street in New York City's busy Midtown area.

Footage shows the man as he walks past the truck, loops around to take a better look, and stands for a moment, apparently pondering his crime. Photo / NYPD

Footage from the theft shows a man walking along 48th Street and then loitering around the truck, which was open at the back.

And when he thinks nobody is watching, he reaches into the vehicle and lifts down the heavy bucket containing the gold flakes.

Afterwards, he is captured on camera hurrying along the sidewalk as he struggles with the stolen goods.

At one point, he even places the five-gallon bucket on the ground, to give his arms a rest from the heavy load.

But after a short rest, he picks up the bucket again and disappears into across the street.

The man grabs the bucket of gold flakes before walking off into the street. Photo / NYPD

Police say the thief lugged the gold flakes up the street, taking an hour to complete what would normally be considered a ten-minute walk.

He then hopped into a white van and fled.

Officers say they believe the thief didn't know what was contained in the bucket.

Police are now searching for the man and believe he could be hiding out in Florida.