An owner has been left heartbroken after three French bulldog puppies were stolen from their mother during a burglary.

The six-week-old female pups were taken from an address in Oak Road between 11.40am and 3.45pm on Sunday, February 19.

They are fawn in colour with a distinctive white stripe on their chest.

The suspects left the puppies’ mother abandoned in the pen.

The dog’s owner, a woman aged in her 50s, said: "I am absolutely heartbroken, the pups need to be home with their mother where they belong.

"She hasn’t stopped pining for them and she doesn’t know what to do. One of the pups, the smallest girl, is shy and another is quite a little character.

"Surely someone has information about their whereabouts.”

After searching the garden pen, the suspects then smashed a back door window to gain access to the main property.

They carried out a messy search inside before leaving empty handed.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pc Hazel Rippingale at Basildon CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.