A crook smashed through a window to steal iPads and hair straighteners from a high street salon in Maldon.

Reed Hair of Maldon High Street has been left fuming after the crook broke into the salon, targeting a full shelf’s worth of electronic hair straighteners as well as two iPads worth hundreds of pounds.

The incident took place shortly after 3am on Thursday morning, with shocking CCTV footage showing the crook break-in and immediately target the shelves of electronics before going for the iPads under the receptionist’s counter.

Vicki Meredith, co-owner, found out about the raid after a commuter spotted the smashed window.

She said: “I co-own the salon with my sister, and her daughter’s friend was travelling on a bus going passed the store when she saw the window and police and phoned to let us know.

“It’s absolutely shocking, he cleared out two shelves worth of electronics before jumping for the iPads.

“The CCTV showed he wasn’t in there very long, he clearly knew exactly what he was doing and had an idea of where the items were.”

The incident at Reed Hair follows a string of burglaries on the High Street, with Carlton Jewellers being targeted twice within a month.

The salon was last struck by raiders five years ago, when £10,000 worth of items were stolen after a crook crowbarred his way through the back door.

Ms Meredith has called for police to do more about the crimes, as she claims they haven’t visited.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Vicki Meredith, co-owner, outside the now boarded up smashed window.

She added: “All was insured and we’re having the window replaced soon, but the most frustrating thing is the police don’t seem to want to get involved.

"We’ve been given a reference number, but there’s been no visit.

“It’s clearly a trend, so many high street places have been hit, so it’s not going away. It should surely require more action than just a phone call.

"We used to be able to walk over the road and report it at the police station, but alas, it's no longer there.

"I hope we can spread the word far and wide enough so those who consider themselves local detectives in Maldon can help trace whoever did this. 

"Someone knows them. People need to watch who they buy GHDs from in the next few days."

Essex Police have been approached for comment.