THIEVES struck at a cafe after two workers went to the help of a screaming 11-year-old child who fell out of a tree.

The pair were cleaning up at the Southchurch Park cafe when they saw the injured boy and rushed to his aid, without thinking to lock the doors.

Caroline Spivey, 18, and Nathalie Lovell, 23, waited while paramedics checked over the child, who had injured his arm in the fall.

But when they returned to the cafe at 5.15pm on Tuesday they discovered £300 was missing from the till.

Miss Spivey said: “We were just getting the tables and chairs in and then a little boy fell out of the tree. He was screaming for help so we went to help him.”

The girls had been approached by a couple while they were tending to the boy outside the cafe.

Miss Spivey, who lives in Central Avenue, Southend, said: “A lady walked past and asked if there were any adults here. We thought she was asking about the boy’s parents. But she said, ‘No, are there any adults in the cafe?’ “We were quite angry. We were stupid really.”

The girls told her the cafe was empty before a heavily-tattooed man said he was going round to the back to use the toilet.

Melanie Bines, who owns the lease on the cafe, said: “Obviously someone saw an opportunity to come along and take advantage of the situation.

“Normally there’s more of us there, but it was quite bad weather that day.”

Mrs Bines said she would be installing CCTV to prevent further thefts, but would not be claiming on her insurance.

She added: “I could claim but for a small amount like that I probably won’t because the excess is so high.”

Luckily the young boy only sustained a minor injury, and his parents were quickly at the scene. He was not taken to hospital.

The theft suspect was short and stocky and had stubble on his face. The woman who was thought to be with him was about 5ft 9ins, and had brown hair. Both were wearing jeans and T-shirts.

Anyone with information about the theft is urged to get in touch with police in Southend by calling 0300 3334444.