Curl Up N Dye salon, Portland Street, suffers break-in after wave of offences in Newark as Nottinghamshire Police task priority crime team with arresting offender

An independent hair salon has become the latest store to be targeted following a series of break-ins across the town centre over the past few weeks.

Curl Up ‘N’ Dye was targeted in the early hours of Thursday, August 8, when a front door window was smashed to gain entry before a quantity of GHD hair straighteners and tip jars were taken.

Owner Shannon Donnelly had opened her new larger salon, on Portland Street, just a year ago, after relocating from Lombard Street where she had been in business since she was 18.

She said: “The front window was completely smashed, he got through the front door. It’s not just financial, it impacts my insurance, it impacts me coming to work every day.

“I work six days a week and I work hard, and then for someone to just come in and pick up what they want, I’m upset but angry at the same time.”

Her business is the latest to be affected in a series of break-ins across Newark, which has seen businesses and charities targeted.

Others affected include City Goldsmiths, the YMCA Charity Shop, Oxfam, K&H, and Kings Turkish Barber, with the businesses’ windows smashed and items taken including charity boxes and jewellery.

“It’s just a horrible feeling. Obviously I’m not the only one, there’s a lot that’s being done at the moment. How many more is it going to take for them to do something about it?” Shannon added.

Nottinghamshire Police officers said the break-ins were believed to be linked, and the responsibility of one single offender, with every effort being made by police to make an arrest.

The incident is under investigation, with CCTV and forensic inquiries being actively pursued to identify and catch those responsible.

Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “I’d like to reassure local businesses and members of the public that we are actively investigating and doing everything we possibly can to gather evidence and catch those responsible following a recent spate of commercial break-ins in the town centre area.

“In response, we have increased overnight plain clothes patrols in affected areas and put additional resources into the town centre, including uniformed officers carrying out targeted hotspot patrols, to tackle crime and provide more of a visible presence in our communities.

“Meanwhile, officers are continuing to pursue lines of inquiry, including working closely with CCTV operators and checking footage, after a number of shops and businesses were recently broken into.

“While our inquiries remain ongoing, we are currently treating these break-ins as linked as we believe there is one individual suspect who is responsible for the vast majority of the incidents reported to us. A priority crime team has been tasked with locating and arresting him as soon as possible.”

Shannon is also calling for the community’s support in catching the offender, by sharing any CCTV footage or information they may have with the police.

“If anyone’s got any evidence anywhere around town, if you can pass it on to the police I would really appreciate it,” she said.

Inspector Ellam added: "The impact of burglary on local businesses can be severe and far-reaching, which is why we treat all reports seriously and we will continue our relentless work to identify and locate offenders and get them to answer for their selfish crimes in court.

“I’d urge anyone who may have recorded CCTV footage or any other information which could assist us with our inquiries to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 75 of August 8, 2024, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“Additionally, I’d urge local businesses to remain vigilant and for people to report any suspicious activity to police immediately.”