Classic Cutz hair salon in Tang Hall ransacked

Intruders ran amok after breaking into Terry Smith’s Classic Cutz premsises, in Fourth Avenue, Tang Hall.

The vandals:

* Forced the front door, cracking the window

* Ripped units from the walls

* Smashed mirrors

* Overturned chairs and tables

* Stole items including racing trophies and Liverpool football shirts.

Mr Smith, who stood for the Conservative party in Osbaldwick at the last council elections, said he had forgotten to renew his contents insurance, and he did not know how he was going to pay for the repairs.

But he pledged not to be defeated by the break-in, and said his priority would be to clean up the premises and get back into business as quickly as possible.

“I won’t let them win,” he said.

“Why should they shut me down?

“I only had the salon refitted last week.

“I discovered what had happened when I came back from the city centre, where I was watching football in a pub.

“I saw the lights were on and knew that something was not right.

“When I got close, I saw it had been ransacked. It’s utter devastation.

“I’m shocked and appalled this should happen, when I’ve spent so many years trying to build up the business and provide a service to the community.

“I don’t think someone should be subjected to this sort of thing.”

Mr Smith said he was still not fully aware how many items had been stolen, as the door had been barred up for security purposes, but it was possible that personal documents and hairdressing equipment had been taken as well as memorabilia such as his Liverpool football shirts and trophies from his time when he was part of a racing syndicate.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the break-in happened between 6pm and 7pm on Wednesday.

He said that a 14-year-old girl was arrested at 7.45pm, and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

He appealed for anyone who witnessed the break-in to phone PC Mark Bradley-Wells on 0845 60 60 247, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.