A CLUMSY thief left behind traces of his own blood after breaking into a hair salon to steal hundred of pounds from a charity box.

Jane Higgins, owner of Styles Hair Studio, in Timberlog Lane, Basildon, was alerted to the break-in by a nearby shopworker.

When she arrived at the business on Monday morning, she discovered a glass window had been smashed, her till had been raided and the charity box had been swiped.

The box, believed to have contained up to £300, was put in place to raise money for mental health charity Mind in honour of late colleague Liam Kelly.

Mrs Higgins, a mum-of-two, said: “It’s disgusting that he has stolen from charity, especially a cause that means so much to us and is so close to our hearts.

“I have been here for 21 years. It’s hard work enough without someone coming in and taking stuff.

“Hopefully because he left a lot of blood behind the police will catch him.

“The blood was all over the till, the desk and the chairs from where he came in through the window.

“There was loads of blood, he must have really cut himself.

“It was on every single door handle so he must have been bleeding from his hands.”

She urged other business owners to not leave cash on their premises overnight.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating a burglary at a hair salon on Timberlog Lane in Basildon.

“Someone forced their way into the rear of the building through a door sometime between 6pm on Saturday, August 27 and 5am on Monday, August 29.

“They carried out a messy search, forcing doors open and causing damage. Some items were removed.”

The thief was captured on CCTV cameras wearing a light-coloured top and black trainers.

The salon windows has now been boarded up.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.