A man has been charged after multiple businesses – including a hair salon and a sandwich bar – were broken into.

Nine companies on the Medway City Estate in Strood were reportedly targeted during the early hours of Wednesday, August 23.

This included LouLou’s Sandwich Bar and Box Six Tattoos, which are both in Box City in Culpeper Close.

Video footage showed a man entering the sandwich shop and rifling through cupboards.

Owner Louise Coltham previously told KentOnline: “We only opened on July 17. It’s literally been a month so it’s tough to have this happen so early on.”

Abi Cornell, who Box Six Tattoos, had an estimated £15,000 worth of tattoo equipment stolen the same night.

A barber shop and hair salon were also among those reportedly targeted.

It is alleged money was stolen and other items including a laptop and mobile phone.

On Saturday, September 2, an investigation by the Medway Victim Based Crime Team led to the arrest of Tony Jackson, 62.

Jackson, of Burnt Oak Terrace, Gillingham, was charged with eight counts of burglary.

These include a separate break in at a warehouse on the Gillingham Business Park on August 28.

He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday (September 4) and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

He was remanded in custody until a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on October 2.