Police are appealing for witnesses after a "distraction theft" at a nail bar in a busy Canvey road.

Officers received a report of the incident yesterday morning (April 12) around 11.48 am in Furtherwick Road's junction with Waarden Road.

Police say a man described as being of 'Italian' appearance, around 5'5" tall wearing a grey jacket, jeans and a cap, entered the nail bar pretending to be a customer.

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However, it was reported, he claimed he could not speak English and asked to use a pen.

While staff were distracted, the suspect allegedly left with the victim's mobile phone, a Samsung.

He left the store quickly and was last seen heading towards Paarl Road.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "If you were in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious please call us on 101, quoting incident number 0433 of 12th April."