Cameras have captured the moment a balding middle-aged man brazenly pilfers cash from the till of a Canterbury beauty parlour.

The thief walks into Elite Hair and Beauty in Orange Street where he spends a couple of minutes before opening the till and helping himself to £70.

The theft took place between 1pm and 3pm on Monday, January 9.

Staff were busy with customers receiving beauty therapy at the back of the premises.

Owner Rose Neil says they usually hear when customers enter the shop.

“But this guy was so quiet,” said the 56-year-old, who has had the business for eight years.

“He walks around for ages before going for the till. Watching the film back from the cameras makes me so angry that someone could do this. It’s horrible.

“We have great customers and now we are going to have to tell them to be more careful.”

Mrs Neil says that the man watched the shop from across the road before making his move.

Once inside, he prowls around before spotting the till and working out how to open it.

Eventually, he takes his glasses off and removes the cash before fleeing.

“He was very hesitant when he was in the shop and was looking around constantly,” Mrs Neil added. “I don’t know why he took his glasses off.

“I’d say he was a man in his 50s. All us shopkeepers are having to be more careful these days.”

The thief was bald, had a short beard and was wearing a red coat and black trousers.
Police are investigating the crime as a burglary.

Anyone with information can call 101, quoting the crime reference number ZY/001761/17.