A SINGLE mum from Davenham has vowed to bounce back after thieves stole £20,000 worth of stock from her business.

Mhari Oakes is a stylist and founding leader of Stella and Dot UK and Ireland, which sells boutique-style jewellery and accessories online and through in-home style sessions.

In the early hours of Sunday morning thieves broke into Ms Oakes’ car in Bowdon, Trafford, where she had been hosting a style session.

The thieves made off with the entirety of the mum-of-one’s stock, which she estimates is worth in the region of £20,000, although this could be considerably higher.

CCTV recorded the crime taking place, and has been passed on to Greater Manchester Police as part of their investigation.

Ms Oakes said: “Two of them got out of a car then went straight to my car, straight to my boot. It can’t be an opportunist crime, they knew. They didn’t even attempt to get into another car.

“Within three minutes they had emptied my car from top to bottom. My whole livelihood was in there.”

Some of the items stolen included jewellery, handbags, scarves and personal engraved items given to Ms Oakes.

Ms Oakes, who is classed as self-employed, said her business insurance will only cover £1,000 of the overall loss.

She said she has been ‘overwhelmed’ with messages of support, including from Jessica Herrin, chief executive and founder of Stella and Dot.

Ms Oakes said: “I was literally reading messages yesterday and was crying and crying because of the kindness.

“I’m a single mum, this is my livelihood. I pay my bills with this, I pay everything.

“They have taken my job away, taken away my ability to earn.”

Ms Oakes urged buyers only to buy Stella and Dot products from an official seller, and urged any buyers approached with items on the black market to inform the police.

She said: “I won’t be beaten by them, I can’t. I am such a positive person, I have such a positive outlook with my life.

“I am a really hardworking mum, I won’t let them beat me.

“I will come back from this though it has given me a massive knock. I am quite tenacious and determined. I would love for them to be found. Nobody deserves this.”

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “The incident was reported to police just before 10.10pm on Sunday, November 19.

“The offender/s gained entry into a car and stole a quantity of jewellery and handbags.”

Anyone with any information relating to the incident is asked to call Greater Manchester Police quoiting crime reference number November 19, 0746.