A salon owner whose business was burgled has been conducting her own investigation.

Grandmother of four Kathryn Wareham runs The Salon in Walderslade Village and LK Hair and Beauty in Kestrel Road, Lordswood.

The 62-year-old said she has been “doing all the legwork” since her premises in Lordswood were broken into on Thursday, August 11.

Mrs Wareham said: “He got through a wrought-iron gate and an iron door – through a gap most of my girls can’t get through.

“He knew exactly where he was going because he went straight up to the girls’ tip boxes. It’s a busy shop and they work really hard for their money.

“Then he went to the till and took the till tray out. We keep petty cash in there, and went back outside, he may have given it to someone.”

Mrs Wareham said the intruder then went back into the shop. “He went straight to where the GHD straighteners are kept and took them,” she said. “He knew exactly where to go.

“We could still open the next day, but the thief did take quite a bit of our products.”

'He knew exactly where he was going because he went straight to the girls' tip boxes' - Kathryn Wareham

Mrs Wareham added that a man who works in the takeaway next door saw two men outside the back of the salon in a Ford Fiesta at the time of the robbery.

She has also been talking to neighbouring businesses and collecting CCTV footage from both her salons in an attempt to find the culprit.

During her inquiries she discovered that a number of other businesses in Walderslade Village have also allegedly been targeted by thieves.

It is understood that a man tried to break into Moby Dick’s fish and chip shop for about two hours between 11.30pm on August 4, until 1am on August 5.

The barber’s shop in Walderslade Road was also reportedly targeted around the same time.

Ozzy Usenmez, owner of Kent Barbers, said: “The fish and chip shop opposite got his face on CCTV. He just broke the door and got the cash till and walked out the back door.”

Mr Usenmez said the break-in did not stop him from opening up his business as usual the next day.

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police officers are investigating a report of a burglary at a business in Kestrel Road, Chatham.

“It is believed the business was burgled between 12.57am and 1.02am on Thursday, August 11.

“A quantity of money was reported stolen along with some electrical equipment. Inquiries are ongoing.”