TERRIFIED customers were left in tears after three thugs stormed a phone shop “armed with a knife”.

The thieves stole several mobile phones and threatened a female member of staff before fleeing the EE shop in Town Square, Basildon, yesterday afternoon.

One witness, who was in the store at the time, described the incident as it unfolded.

Jack Witchelo, 23, is a security guard and said his training came in handy when reacting to the distressing situation.

Mr Witchelo, from Long Riding, said: “I was sitting on a seat near the door waiting to be served.

“All of a sudden, three lads came in and started ripping phones out of the wall.

“A woman shouted at them something like ‘get a job’ and that’s when one of them pointed something at her which I believe was a knife.

“He swore and shouted something threatening at her before he went to take another phone off the wall. I told everyone to get back because I had a clear shot and was ready to lunge if he did go for any of the customers.

“I half stood up as he took a step forward and he saw I was standing up and then they all legged it out of the shop.”

Mr Witchelo said customers were left visibly upset after the raid took place and that he wanted to protect vulnerable customers.

He added: “It was a fight or flight thing really. That’s what I’m trained to do. If someone is in danger then I am going to do what I can. The shop was full of women and children.

“I stayed in the shop by the door in case they came back and waited until police arrived. “One woman was in floods of tears.”

A worker from another nearby phone shop, 28, said: “Someone from the EE shop came in and told us about the incident.

“They told us that there was a group of people who were being aggressive in the shop and that they had a knife with them.

“I am not worried about working here. We only found out when the EE worker came in to talk to us. We have a radio system that goes to security so I don’t feel unsafe.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Three suspects walked into the shop, threatened a number of people inside and then grabbed phones on the display. They have then run from the scene. We are investigating reports that the men may have been armed with weapons.” Anyone with information call Basildon police station on 101.