ONE shop assistant leaped into action after a customer realised her purse had been stolen.

Sharen Howse, 49, a shop assistant at Card Factory on the High Street, Southend, chased after an individual when a mum’s purse went missing in the shop.

Ms Howse, who has worked in the store for three years said: “I didn’t think, I just legged it. I heard someone say ‘excuse me’ in a concerned voice and when asked what happened Alice told me someone had taken her purse.

“With that I was off the floor, and out the door to try find the man. He ran all-round the back of the shops and I was a little concerned but I carried on. I was shouting for people to help me catch him and call the police.

“Luckily there were some builders nearby and they gave chase too. We quickly caught up with him and held him until the police arrived.

“I would do it again, what a good result to actually get the purse back.

Alice Waddilove, 34, from Westcliff was in shop with her three-month-old baby when she saw a man moving her pram and realised her purse had gone missing.

The mum of three said: “It was all such a blur, I can’t believe they actually got him. It was really good of Sharen, I just wanted to thank her.

“My purse was just hanging on to my pram and I had my son William in my arms while I was picking out some cards.

“All the staff were determined to bring him down. It was quite a scene with Sharen chasing after him and others joining in.

“I was in shock but luckily there was no cash in my purse, only cards and kids birthday vouchers. Hopefully this will give the man quite a scare.”

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to Southend High Street at just after12.25pm on Wednesday, June 22, following reports that a man had stolen a purse from a shopper at the Card Factory store.

“A member of store staff detained the man in nearby Queen’s Road. Officers attended and a 34-year-old man from Leigh was arrested on suspicion of theft. He’s been bailed pending further police enquiries until July 12.”