<p>Eloise Leonard was on her way back home with parents after winning the 100 metres, when she confronted four youths rifling through handbags. The gang fled but she ran after them, flagging down a passing police car. <br /><br />"It was great to win my race and then catch the thieves. Best of all, they didn't have a gun or a knife," Daily Express quoted Eloise from Chelmsford, Essex as saying. <br /><br />Her father Tony said: "She dropped her bag and coat and gave chase. She shouted, 'Stop, we have called the police, you can't get away from me'." <br /><br />Mother Deb also joined the chase but could not keep up with Eloise. <br /><br />A helicopter and patrol cars were scrambled. But the schoolgirl kept up the chase even when police arrived.<br /><br />Deb said: "She flagged down a police car but the officers took a while to believe such a young girl had chased the thieves."</p>
<p>Eloise Leonard was on her way back home with parents after winning the 100 metres, when she confronted four youths rifling through handbags. The gang fled but she ran after them, flagging down a passing police car. <br /><br />"It was great to win my race and then catch the thieves. Best of all, they didn't have a gun or a knife," Daily Express quoted Eloise from Chelmsford, Essex as saying. <br /><br />Her father Tony said: "She dropped her bag and coat and gave chase. She shouted, 'Stop, we have called the police, you can't get away from me'." <br /><br />Mother Deb also joined the chase but could not keep up with Eloise. <br /><br />A helicopter and patrol cars were scrambled. But the schoolgirl kept up the chase even when police arrived.<br /><br />Deb said: "She flagged down a police car but the officers took a while to believe such a young girl had chased the thieves."</p>