Gardaí are making appeals.
A woman and her two children in Co. Clare was targeted by a group of men while out walking over the weekend.
The incident occurred at around 1.10pm on Drumcliffe Road in Ennis on Sunday afternoon when they were approached by three men.
One man grabbed the woman while a second attempted to grab her handbag and one of the men smashed her children’s phones on the ground.
A third man then stood talking on his own phone while the incident took place.
The woman said it was “very traumatic”, according to Gardaí and they are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed it to come forward.
Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks, told Clare FM on Tuesday: “At 1.10pm on Sunday afternoon, a lady was walking on Drumcliffe Road in Ennis with her two children.
“She was approached from behind by three males, one grabbed her from behind and another tried to take her handbag and broke the strap in the process.
“The children both had mobile phones in their hands and one of the males took these and smashed them off the ground.
“While this was going on, the third male was talking on his own mobile phone.
“This was very traumatic for the mother and her two children, so if anybody witnessed this incident or anyone who may have dashcam footage, we’re asking them to contact Ennis garda station.”
