A SHOP owner was heartbroken after a group of “professional” thieves stole £250 worth of sweets while he chased their accomplices down the street.

On one of his busiest days of the year, owner of Darcy’s Sweet Shop, Jamie Milleare, chased two culprits who had made off with his jelly beans.

Whilst he was out of the shop in Eld Lane, Colchester, a group of three men continued to load the traditional American sweets and drinks into their backpacks.

Mr Milleare, who has owned the shop for more than six years, said Invasion Colchester weekend was the one staff most look forward to.

He was gutted that it had ended in such a horrific way.

He said: “It was really busy as it was Invasion Colchester and for us independent traders it brings a lot of people into the town.

“I noticed it was busy so I got behind the till and these guys kept looking at me - I found it really strange.

“They were watching my every move.

“These guys were professionals, they knew exactly what they were doing. There was about five of them.”

Mr Milleare, who has also been the owner of the Bubble T Bar across the road for the past year, continued to serve a customer and noticed two of the men backing towards the entrance of the shop, with stock in their hands.

They made a run out the door, and Mr Milleare leapt over the counter to chase after them.

He caught up with them at the stairs by the Vineyard Bar and confiscated two boxes of jelly beans.

The rest of the group had stayed inside the shop.

He said: “What I didn’t realise was the other guys were still in the shop at the time.

“I was so angry, I work so hard to make a living and to have them steal from me is heartbreaking.”

The group inside the shop stole American soda cans, and bottles of Jack Daniels barbecue sauce.

CCTV shows the men putting their hands into their bags and leaving the shop casually.

Mr Milleare said: “I couldn’t believe the cheek of it, their arms were absolutely full.

“At first I thought they were just customers.

“Everybody was shocked at what happened.”

He was most upset about the fact the thieves had acted on a day of charity and giving back to the community. The shop had a really successful day, with children and families stopping off on their way to watch their favourite film and comic book characters in Lion Walk.

It is not known exactly what was stolen at this time, but Mr Milleare said he could see some of the most expensive stock had been taken.

He said: “The most annoying thing is Saturday was Invasion Colchester, which is for St Helena Hospice.

“It’s really close to my heart, that day is a big deal for me.

“To think that someone on that particular day would come and steal from me, it just gets to me.”

The incident happened on Saturday at 4.53pm. Anyone with information should call police on 101.