Salon is targeted by raider wielding hammer and knife
OWNER THREATENED AS MASKED MAN MAKES OFF WITH A CASH REGISTER
HAIRDRESSERS and customers were left terrified as a masked raider burst into a salon demanding cash.
Wielding a hammer and a knife, the man threatened owner Brooke Troughton unless she handed over the contents of the till at The Salon, in Forest Hall.
Brooke said: “I normally hear people when they come up the stairs, but I didn’t hear him until he was right behind me.
“He had a ski mask on. I could only see his eyes. he kept on saying, ‘I need cash, I need cash.’
“He was waving a knife and a hammer in the air.
“I had a member of staff making a cup of tea in the back. Her client and mine were here and they were so scared.
“I told him we didn’t have any cash because we only take card payments, but he clocked the till – which belongs to the beauty business here, not to me – and he said, ‘Are you telling me there’s no cash in there? Don’t make me do anything.’”
Brooke couldn’t access the till, because the owner of the beauty business which shares the salon wasn’t in, and had the keys with her.
She said: “He ripped the till out and ran out with it. He left a real mess in here.”
The horrifying robbery took place on Thursday, November 16, at 6.40pm. Thirty-threeyear-old Brooke, who has owned the business, in Station Road, Forest Hall, for two years, said she now plans to invest in better security to prevent anyone entering the shop without her seeing.
She added: “I’m worried he will get away scot-free.”
Police are now search for a white man in his early 20s who is described as 5ft 7-9in tall and of slim build, with blue eyes and light brown bushy eyebrows. He was wearing a blue/grey-striped hoodie with the hood up and red Nike trainers, with his face covered.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “Anyone who was in the area and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious is asked to contact police.
“We believe there was a small sporty Corsa-type car nearby and a man walking a black Labrador-type dog in the area at the time of the robbery. They are appealing for the occupants of the car and the dog walker to contact them as they may have witnessed the incident. Call 101, quoting 144234X/17 or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”