Oakley's Barber Shop in Darlington left 'ransacked'

Oakley's Barber Shop, on Bondgate, has been left “smashed up” after being broken into the early hours of Monday morning (July 22).

Craig Egan, who runs the 1950s retro-style venue, said that around £80 of petty cash was taken from the store - and around £2000 of damage has been caused after decor was ripped from the walls and glass trampled into the floor. 

(Image: UCG)

(Image: UCG)

The 31-year-old told The Northern Echo: “This happened at about 4.40am on Monday - there is a little CCTV from the other shop. 

“The person walked across the road with a brick and threw it at the window. 

“They walked in, ransacked the shop, took about £80 of petty cash, ripped things off the wall and smashed things up. 

“I think it has caused around £2,000 worth of damage. They trampled all the smashed glass into the vinyl floor. All that for £80 petty cash.” 

Craig works alongside two self-employed barbers, Blaine Peat and Ben Williams, and said the incident is “affecting their livelihoods” due to the shop being forced to close for two days. 

Blaine Peat, Oakley's Barber Shop (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

“We’re trying to get the windows and flooring replaced. We were meant to open on Monday and Tuesday and we couldn’t,” he added. 

The incident came at the 'worst possible time' for Craig, who only found out the shop had been broken into after landing on the runway at Palma de Mallorca Airport on Monday. 

He continued: “One of my staff went in at about 9am and rang me and took photos. It wasn’t until I turned my aeroplane mode back off when I landed that I got them.

“One resident said they heard a loud crash at the time, panicked, and rang the police straight away. Then a company came out and boarded it up.” 

However, Craig, who has been barbering for more than 10 years across the North East, said the incident didn’t take him by surprise: “I wish it was a shock but I saw it coming. 

“You don’t think it’s going to be your shop, but it is getting rougher and rougher.” 

Oakley's Barber Shop - which was earlier this month shortlisted in The Echo’s Best Hairdresser Competition - is back open for business on Wednesday. 

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However, the floor of the shop remains taped up as best as possible while the team waits for repair works to be carried out. 

A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: "Police are investigating a burglary which happened at a barber shop on Bondgate, in Darlington, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

"Officers were called shortly before 4.45am following reports that two people had gained entry to the shop. An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing."