Thieves target specific York businesses in spate of late night smash and grab raids

Police are hunting thieves responsible for a series of raids at hairdressers and barbers in York.

Officers say they’ve seen a spate of such break-ins over the last few days.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Suspects have been breaking in through the front windows and then stealing money from the till as well as taking items left on display.

“The incidents have so far taken place in the early hours of the morning, usually between midnight and 4am.

“We’re proactively searching for the suspect and will be conducting both high visibility and plain clothes patrols in the areas of the burglaries.”

If your business has been targeted and it’s not been reported, call police on 101. Or dial 999 if you see a crime taking place.

Officers have offered advice to owners on how to safeguard their business:

• Don’t leave valuable items on display
• Make sure all money is cleared from the till at the end of each day and preferably banked or taken to a safe place
• If you can, install shutters or window bars to stop the windows being accessible to thieves
• Install CCTV or doorbell cameras which are triggered by movement.