A cruel mother is being hunted by police after she allegedly used her young children to steal a handbag from a Southbank restaurant.

Police say the little boys appear to have been trained to target unsuspecting diners, taking credit cards before moving on to their next target.

The mother targets restaurant diners and her sons, aged four and five, carry out her dirty work.

View photos CCTV image released by Victorian Police. Photo: Supplied More

“It’s well planned. The kids went iside with the mum, separated from the mum, crawls around the tables, found a substantial bag they could take and left with it,” The Meat and Wine Co. manager Don Erlich said.

Around 8pm on Saturday night the family entered the Meat and Wine Co at Southbank.

The woman told staff she was there to meet friends.

The youngest boy allegedly grabbed a handbag and headed downstairs followed by his mum and brother.

“Staff were quite suspicious,” Mr Erlich said.

View photos A second security camera image. Photo: Supplied More

“On the way day, when the lady was trying to leave the restaurant, they tried to follow the kids.

“One of our staff members came outside to talk to the lady about the bag the kid was carrying.

“Then she started getting annoyed and loud.”

The elderly victim’s bag contained medication and valuables including credit cards.

The suspicion is that the trio is highly trained. It is also believed that they’re responsible for the theft of another handbag at another Southbank restaurant earlier in the evening.

View photos Police would like to speak to the woman in the security vision. Photo: Supplied More

The woman is believed to be aged in her 30s.

First constable Anthony Kilkenny said he was shocked.

“It’s not something you would expect a five-year-old to do,” he said.

“…Obviously we hold concerns for the kids if that’s the lifestyle they’re being introduced to.”