Going straight proves attractive for thieves

Staff returned to a salon in Tickhill Road, Maltby, South Yorkshire, on Monday morning, to find that burglars had broken in and stolen items including hair straighteners, cameras, laptop computers and mobile phones.

Hair straighteners are particularly sought after by thieves at this time of year, officers from South Yorkshire Police say, as they are a popular choice of Christmas gift.

Over the previous weekend there was one burglary and one attempted burglary at hairdressing salons in Rotherham town centre and Rawmarsh, where hair straighteners were stolen.

Crime reduction officer Eamonn Larkin said businesses could take steps to protect themselves from such burglaries.

He said: “The point of entry and exit in most of these offences is at the rear of the property. Access is often gained by attacking a rear window or door at ground level, or a window or fire door at first floor level. When premises are empty, fire doors should be locked and windows should be secured with a key-operated window lock.”