A COLCHESTER mum has shared her fears after crooks stole her designer bag before racking up hundreds of pounds on her bank card.

Sacha Allen was left heartbroken and ‘completely frustrated’ after discovering her car had been ransacked in the early hours of May 31, in Abbey Fields.

Since the burglary, the thieves have spent £500 by using her bank card at various spots across the city.

Locations the card has been used at include Asda, Spar, Hollies Bakery in Monkwick, a taxi firm whose name didn’t appear on the charge, and a bus.

Gazette: The thief walking away with Sacha's bag, shortly after breaking into her car.The thief walking away with Sacha's bag, shortly after breaking into her car. (Image: Sacha Allen)

Sacha has been left "feeling horrible" after the experience and desperately wanted her bag - a present from her boyfriend to commemorate their first Christmas together last year - returned.

The LRM bag, purchased from Fenwick, was customised with her initials and filled with photographs of her children and expensive makeup.

Sacha said: “I am just upset. It’s frustrating, the bag was a present. I understand things get stolen and sometimes people get away with it, but I just want the bag back.

“My boyfriend bought it for me for Christmas, even getting it personalised in-store. It was a special present as it was our first Christmas together. It and had a lot of makeup and a Pandora bracelet inside too.

“It feels horrible, it doesn’t feel right, my car was all ransacked with a mess huge mess inside. He had rooted through everything, from the boot to the glovebox and the door panels, leaving a huge mess inside.

“When you pride the things you have, they mean a lot, so when someone takes it from you it really hurts.”

Essex Police has launched an investigation into the theft.

A spokesman for the force said: "We received a call reporting a handbag and bracelet were taken when a vehicle was broken into in Colchester.

“It was reported it happened in Dapifer Close between 8.30pm on May 31 and 9.30am on June 1.

"A bank card taken from the handbag was then subsequently used.

“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us. Please quote the crime reference number 42/97854/23."