Detectives investigating are appealing for witnesses and information following a theft from a womans motor vehicle in Abbots Langley.

At around 10.40pm on Monday, September 18 two drivers were involved in a car damage-only collision in Hazelwood Lane.

One woman diver aged in her 30s, had pulled out of a road and hit another car on the the junction with Broomfield Rise.

She had carried on driving and did not stop, until her car broke down yards down the road. The other driver who was in his car with his wife came over to speak with her.

While they were talking, a group of up to eight males came and surrounded the woman.

They then stole her purse from her handbag which had been left in her car.

The man told them don't worry the police are on their way and "there is no need for you to be here" but he did not realise what they had just done.

The group of men were believed to be aged in their late teens and were not known to either driver.

The purse was found close by but all the cards had been stolen from within.

Detective Sergeant Rob Muir said: “Thankfully the woman was not hurt but has understandably been left shaken by her ordeal. This is an unusual incident and we are doing all we can to trace those involved.

“I would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed what happened or who saw a group of people hanging around the area during the evening. If you have any information please get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit via the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference C2/17/2895

or report information online at www.contacthertspolice.uk/Report.