8:45am Monday 8th January 2007
By Jo Duckles
Thieves used hairdressing scissors to cut burglar alarm cables when they broke into a Bicester salon and stole £400 raised through charity events.
The raiders also stole £350 in Christmas tips in the break-in at Parker's Hair Salon, Dean's Court, on December 22.
Martin Parker, who runs the salon, said his shop had been burgled 12 times in eight years.
He said: "We were doing a Christmas raffle for Bardwell School and the thieves took all £400 we had raised.
"They broke the safe, smashed up part of the salon, and smashed the door to smithereens.
"They took all my scissors and also cut the cables on the alarm. And they took the girls' Christmas tips, about £350.
"It's a lot of money and it's not fair."
Dr Parker said after the last incident in October - when vandals ripped his sign off the wall - he had contacted police to arrange for a mobile CCTV camera to be set up in Dean's Court, but nothing had been done.
He added he believed if police had acted on his request sooner, they may have caught the people behind the latest series of burglaries.
But police spokesman Kate Smith said they did not have a mobile CCTV unit available to be used in Bicester.
The raid was one of 11 break-ins to Bicester businesses over the Christmas period.
Insp Tom Brooks said: "There have been a series of burglaries in the town centre and we have arrested two people who are currently on police bail."
Anyone with information can contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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