AN opportunist car thief stole an in-car DVD player – belonging to a four-year-old girl.

Now the girl’s furious mother has delivered a scathing message to the crook: “you stole from a child.”

Angry Rebecca McCann contacted the WHT after she discovered the DVD player belonging to her four-year-old daughter Charlotte had been stolen over the weekend from the family’s Land Rover Freelander.

The device had been a gift to Charlotte from Rebecca, to entertain her during long car trips.

Rebecca, 32, said the player was a favourite present of Charlotte’s as it helped distract her from the noises being made by seven-month-old sister Abby.

As well as the Alba DVD player itself, a remote control and a copy of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – one of Charlotte’s favourite films – was also stolen during the theft, which took place sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

“Charlotte’s really upset,” said Rebecca. “She’s got a child-like view of the world and we’ve always told her the world’s a nice place to live.

“Now she keeps talking about the bad person who took stuff from the car.”

Rebecca, from Dawley, WGC, said the back door to the car may have been left unlocked – but was still shocked that somebody could take something that clearly belonged to a child.

“I suppose we’re quite complacent, it’s a quiet, friendly street,” she said. “We trust all our neighbours – this sort of thing doesn’t normally happen.

“They’ve obviously just seen it and taken it. It was strapped to the back of the front seat and in front of a child seat.

She added: “I’m angry. You’ve stolen from a child. It’s not like we’ve got a lot of money to go and buy a new DVD player.”

Rebecca asked anyone who has been offered an Alba DVD player recntly to call police on 0845 33 00 222.