A third man has been charged after a hairdressing salon in Strood was broken into twice in less than two weeks.

Mark Dunn, 38, of no fixed address, was charged last Saturday in relation to the burglary at the Cut Thru Studio on Saturday, April 1.

Owner Jenny O’Neill had been camping out overnight at her salon in Tolgate Lane in a bid to foil raiders.

Miss O’Neill, 31, from Strood, said: “I have built my business up from scratch over five years and I am determined to protect it.”

In the first burglary, on March 21, thieves smashed through a bathroom window and then ransacked the office, ripped the safe off the wall, snatched tip money and damaged chairs.

Dunn appeared before Medway magistrates last Monday April 10 where he received a suspended sentence.

On Friday, April 14, police arrested and later charged Kevin Coates, 38, of Benenden Manor, Goudhurst Road, Gillingham.

He has now been charged with burglary in relation to the break in on 21 March and he was also charged with burgling a café in the same road on February 16.

Coates, formerly of Cambria Avenue, Borstal, Rochester, has been bailed to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 2.

Just days earlier, Nathan Cooper, 45 and of Commissioners Road in Strood, was charged with the burglary which took place on March 21.

He has also been bailed to appear at Medway Magistrates Court on the same day.

Miss O’Neill, 31, from Strood, added: “We shall have to wait and see what happens.”