A teenage boy had a tooth knocked out when he was punched after chasing two thieves who had snatched his girlfriend's handbag.
Police said the boy, his girlfriend and another pal were outside Virgin Records, in Southend High Street, when the thieves pounced.
They approached the girl from behind, grabbed her bag and fled.
The boy gave chase, but when he got to them, one of the robbers punched him twice in the face.
Both thieves were mixed race - one aged 18-19, 5ft 6ins tall, wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, white trainers and with short black hair. The other was aged about 17, 6ft tall, with short black hair wearing a basketball-style gold T-shirt and shorts.
Police are checking CCTV footage of the incident, which happened at 8pm on Monday.
Anyone with information should contact Southend police on 01702 431212.
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