IPSWICH: A hairdresser has today urged the public to help apprehend the thief who broke into his salon and made off with equipment worth more than �400.

Steven Eley, co-owner of Cutting Garden Hairdressing, which is above the Early Learning Centre in the Buttermarket, has spoken out after the salon was broken into for the fourth time in three years.

In the early hours of Saturday morning, a man, who appeared to be in his late teens to mid 20s, broke into the premises. The thief pulled a TV off the wall, using it to smash through a window in the process of raiding the salon.

Two black pairs and one pink pair of mini straighteners as well as two sets of Wella scissors and a pair of Paul Mitchell scissors were stolen.

Mr Eley said the scissors alone were worth around �400, and one set he has had for four years.

He said: “The scissors really are quite expensive. I have had one of the pairs for about four years. A TV was taken off the wall and used to smash through a window next door.

“Three pairs of hair straighteners and three pairs of my scissors were stolen.”

He urged anyone in the area at around 2.15am on Saturday, who saw or heard anything suspicious to come forward to police officers.

“We want to see the person responsible brought to justice,” he added. “It has been freezing in here since, the door doesn’t shut properly any more because it was damaged. It is really frustrating.”

The suspect is thought to be between 5ft 10in and 5ft 11in, of stocky build, and with short, dark cropped hair. He was wearing a dark jacket, charcoal-coloured jeans and dark shoes.

Police believe the same man maybe responsible for damaging the upper-floor rear window of a shoe shop in the Buttermarket. The damage was caused between 5.30pm on Friday and 10am last Saturday.

Anyone with information about the incidents should contact Suffolk police’s CIB on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

n Have you been a victim of crime? Call the Star on 01473 324788 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk.