A MUM is offering a reward after her 11-year-old son had his expensive mobile phone stolen while they were shopping.

Haris Ali has been left distraught after his "pride and joy," which he had only owned for a few weeks, was taken by a sneak thief.

His mother, Sameena Ahmed, is warning other parents to tell their children to keep their mobiles out of sight.

And she is offering a £100 reward for information leading to the return of the champagne gold coloured Apple iphone.

Mrs Ahmed said: "We were shopping for holiday clothes in the JD Sports shop on the Forster Square retail park. Haris was sitting down to try on some flip flops when he realised his phone had gone.

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"We're not sure if it had been sticking out of his pocket or it had fallen on the floor, but we realised someone had taken it. We reported it to the shop and they checked their CCTV. It showed a man bending down close to Haris, but you couldn't see him taking the phone.

"Haris has taken the theft very badly. It was a super dooper phone and was his pride and joy. He used it for doing research for his homework and to keep in contact with his friends. He cried every day and I was so concerned I contacted his school and asked for the children's mentor to talk to him about it."

Mrs Ahmed, 38, a school intervention officer, added: "He is really down without the phone. We can't afford to replace it and now he can't get in touch with his friends.

"He's never had anything stolen before, but now he is having to deal with being the victim of crime at a very young age.

"It has really affected him. He just wants the phone back, but he knows that is highly unlikely."

Mrs Ahmed said she was shopping with Haris and her two-year-old son Adam Ali, at about 3pm on Sunday, March 29, when the theft occurred.

She said: "Haris is still angry about it. He was really upset when the police said they could not prosecute. But there was no conclusive proof on the CCTV.

"I am offering £100 for information that leads to the return of the phone. The IMEI identification number is 352046065785773. If anyone can help, they can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or they can contact me through the Telegraph & Argus.

"I want to make other parents aware of what is going on. Their children shouldn't have their phones on view because there are people out there who will take them."