Hunt for two suspects ongoing after equipment stolen from St Helens hairdressers

Two offenders sneaked into TLC Hair & Beauty Salon on Water Street and stole a handful of GHD hair accessories while customers were waiting for their appointment.

TLC Hair & Beauty Salon on Water Street

Grabbing their hands on a pair of straighteners and a curling tong – worth approximately £150 each – the pair of thieves attempted to steal further items before they knocked over stock from the shelves and alerted customers.

They then ran out of the shop with the stolen goods towards Nando's on Chalon Way, as shop workers filmed them in an attempt to identify them.

One witness, who was coming out of the Running Horses pub, said she heard the pair saying "we should have got the till, we'll get it next time" as they laughed and ran away. 

Some of the GHD products on sale at TLC

Tina Boyle, owner of TLC, said the two men were seen acting suspiciously outside the store, with one putting his foot and arm inside and looking around.

Tina said: "It's a bit frightening really as they did this in broad daylight with customers in. It's worrying for staff and customers as you don't know what they're capable of if they get backed into a corner."

After posting the video on Facebook, Tina said she has had feedback that multiple people across St Helens have been "terrorised" by a group of young men that match the description of the thieves.

Tina added: "As it's getting darker earlier we're having to lock our doors later on in the day, and just always be on our guard.

"After trying to run a business throughout Covid with lockdowns and restrictions, this is just something extra that we don't need."

The theft has been reported to police, yet the mobile footage was said to be "not [of] sufficient quality to identify the suspects".

A spokesperson said: "We are appealing for information following a shop theft in St Helens on Tuesday, October 12. 

"At around 11.10am, a report was received that two men had entered TLC Hair and Beauty on Water Street and stolen electrical items before running off. 

"The men were described as both white, and in their early 20s, of medium build. The first man was wearing navy blue shorts, dark grey/green hoody and a blue mask. The second man was wearing black jogging pants, black and white Nike trainers, a blue hoody and blue surgeons mask."

Enquiries are still ongoing and anyone with CCTV, mobile or dashcam footage that could identify the men is asked to contact Police via @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with reference 21000708572.

Inside the salon where the two young men snuck in to steal the goods