Hapless hole-in-wall gang steal shampoo (before clean getaway)
IT is a technique more commonly used to break into high-security vaults in an attempt to steal millions of pounds of precious metals, jewels or hard cash.
But one gang of criminals decided to employ the hole-inthe-wall method for a rather less lucrative haul.
Using a sledgehammer the robbers smashed their way into an Aberdeen hair salon to steal… bottles of shampoo and conditioner.
The crooks opted for the hair products over a flat-screen TV and large computer which they left behind.
The gang broke in after bashing a hole between the Beautylicious hair salon on Rosemount Viaduct and the basement of a block of flats next door.
Salon owner Rachel Henderson was devastated when she turned up to work on Monday and found the shop had been turned ‘upside down’.
Miss Henderson, 24, said: ‘The people who did it went down to the basement level of the flats, it is a place mainly the maintenance go to. I don’t know how they would know about it.
‘They managed to sledgehammer down the walls. Everything inside was upside down, but the front door was still locked.’
She added: ‘They haven’t managed to take the flat-screen TV or big computer but they took several thousands of pounds worth of stuff. There was hair products, shampoo, conditioner and make-up taken.’
The thieves also got away with a laptop and mini iPad, giving them a total haul worth around £3,000.
Whether the hole-in-the-wall approach was worth it seems doubtful. This type of break-in technique is most commonly associated with high-stakes thefts, which involve thieves using explosives or drills to blast a hole through a wall.
The Beautylicious thieves have yet to be found and police are urging anyone with information about the heist to come forward.
‘Somebody might have seen something,’ Miss Henderson said. ‘I presume somebody heard something with the banging on the wall, they have managed to break down the partition and plaster and things like that.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that the break-in was reported to police. The incident is believed to have happened between 5pm on June 25 and 9.40am on June 27.
‘Cash, computer equipment and beauty products valued at a low four-figure sum have been taken.
‘Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.’