A BARBER’S shop was broken into an hour after a salon along the road was targeted.

On Thursday morning at 4.30am, a group of three were caught on CCTV smashing through the front door of Shearman’s Barbers in Military Road, Colchester.

They used bricks to smash through but were then seen running off.

Just an hour before, Envy Hair and Beauty salon in nearby Old Heath Road was broken into in the same way and the till was stolen.

Kevin Shearman, who owns Shearman’s Barbers, said: “A neighbour called us at about 6am and I quickly got dressed and went up there.

“Police were already there, a neighbour further up the road had CCTV.

“It’s not conclusive but you can see people kicking the door and throwing a rock. They then dart off across the road and then walk back a few seconds later.”

Thankfully they did not manage to get inside.

Kevin added: “You can just make out three dark figures.They use a clump of bricks to smash through the glass door but we have toughened glass.”

The same method was used to break into the hair salon an hour before.

And last Sunday, crooks smashed through Subway in Culver Square in the same way. They stole the till, card machine and a British Heart Foundation collection box.

On the same day, the Priory Pharmacy in East Hill, was broken into.

A pair armed with a knife smashed a window and were searching the building.

A man in his 50s challenged the suspects and suffered a cut to his shoulder before the suspects ran off.

Two were arrested following the incident.

Andrew Whitten, 31, of Queen Elizabeth Way, has been charged with burglary. He will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court next month.

A 41-year-old man is also on bail until next week.

Police are investigating the raids at Envy, Shearman’s and Subway.

It has not been confirmed if the incidents are connected. Call 101 with information.