TWO brothers who burgled a hairdresser and beauty salon were arrested, charged and convicted – within 36 hours.

David and Aaron Richardson were detained in the early hours of last Wednesday after the Holmlands Hair & Beauty salon, in Ashbrooke, Sunderland, was raided.

Northumbria Police response officers, supported by the dog section, were at the scene within five minutes and soon found the thieves hiding behind a nearby car.

A stash of stolen perfume was also seized nearby.

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

They were taken into custody and later charged with burglary.

Both men admitted the offence when appearing before magistrates in South Tyneside last Thursday morning, and also pleaded guilty to a string of unrelated offences.

The Northern Echo:

David, 30, admitted burgling Jimmy’s Barbers, in Sunderland, on the morning of April 18, along with handling stolen goods after he was found in possession of more than £4,000 worth of drills and showers swiped from B&Q.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property after being found to have handled a £3,000 car that had been stolen from an address on Cairo Street, on the morning of April 25.

The Northern Echo:

As well as the burglary, Aaron, 31, admitted theft from motor vehicle and fraud by false representation relating to the theft of a bank card from a car in Ashbrooke on March 21.

Aaron later fraudulently used the stolen card at a petrol station.

David and Aaron, both of Hendon Valley Court, Sunderland, will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on June 25.

Detective Sergeant Chris Raper-Smith, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a fantastic outcome with two offenders arrested, charged and now convicted at court within just 36 hours.

“The Richardson brothers have consistently shown a total disregard for both the law and the livelihoods of others, and their latest criminality saw them selfishly break into local businesses and swipe any valuables that they could find.

“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour and look forward to both being sentenced for their crimes later this month. We will continue to do all we can to put burglars and thieves before the court, and hope this positive action offers reassurance to all our businesses across the region.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Aelfwynn Sampson, the force's head of crime, said: "This was a fantastic team effort by all criminal justice partners including the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts in order to achieve an effective and swift outcome.

"The fact that these offenders were dealt with so quickly is testament to the quick and effective response by our officers who seized vital evidence, which was then used to pull together an excellent prosecution case."