A GANG of thieves stole hundreds of pounds from a mum who was sitting in Costa Coffee with her young children.

The victim, 29, was in the coffee shop, on Canvey Retail Park, off Roscommon Way when she was targeted by the three women.

The mum-of-two said she was made to feel intimated by the gang of women who kept brushing past her and looking at her while talking amongst themselves at the popular coffee shop.

She was with her eight-month-old baby and four-year-old child.

The victim, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear, said: “My bag was on my chair and then I noticed my purse had gone out of it.

“I started searching for it and they kicked it back under the table to make it look like I dropped it, but I knew what they had done.

“I picked it back up and put it in my bag and picked the kids up and walked over to the door and they followed me.

“I checked my purse and found all my money had gone, I had between £200 and £300 in my purse.”

She added: “I was panicking and I called my dad, who was like my hero, was there in seconds and started searching for them and my husband came from Hadleigh.

“I was just sobbing and shaking.

“My husband ran to her car and ripped open the door.

“As she drove off, she smashed her car into the car next to her and ripped all of her bumper off.”

The mum said the woman then drove on the wrong side of the road.

Her dad continued to give chase until the crooks’ car crashed near The Lobster Smack restaurant and they ran off.

The victim added: “Everyone was searching for them for ages.

“One of the woman walked off towards McDonald’s.

“I think the other girls where younger than me and were in their early 20s.

“I’m not worried about going back there or going out.

“I’ll definitely be more careful and think others should have their wits about them.”

She took to Facebook after the incident to share images of the smashed up car.

She also warned others about the incident and to stay vigilant.

It’s caused fury with 100 residents sending kind messages.

The incident was reported to Essex Police.

Anyone with information should call 101.