Police are appealing for information after two women fought back against a thief who tried to steal the cash they were withdrawing from an ATM in Central Road, Worcester Park.
The women, aged 25 and 27, were taking money out of the Barclays cash machine in Central Road, watched by a man on a bicycle immediately behind them.
As the notes appeared from the machine, the cyclist lunged forward to grab the cash. But he hadn't reckoned on the girls fighting him off and pushing him away.
He then spat at one of the girls, who reacted by pulling him off his bike.
As the women went up the street to join their mother who was waiting for them, the cyclist rode up and told the mother: "If I was going to rob them I would have taken the money."
He added: "Your kids need to learn some manners!"
The incident happened on Sunday, 9 June at approximately 19.15hrs.
The man is described as a white man, approximately 5ft 8inches tall. He was wearing a distinctive blue and white, knitted Alpine hat with strings hanging down from its earpieces. He was also wearing a black jacket. He was riding and red and black bicycle.