Pregnant Burnley beauty salon owner's business broken into twice in same night

Police believe it could be same thief who targeted Bliss beauty salon in the town centre in the early hours of Sunday morning, at 12-45am and then an hour later.

After spending around six minutes in the premises in the first break-in the thief, who gained access to the building by climbing onto a roof and throwing a brick through a second floor window, made his escape.

But it looks like the burglar returned an hour later at 1-40am, for a second search of the salon next to the Boot Inn.

And he was in the premises, helping himself to a haul of nail and beauty products, for around 40 minutes.

Salon owner Bekki Slater, who is due to give birth to her third child in just seven weeks, said: "The salon has 10 rooms over three floors and the thief went into every room, opening drawers and searching everything.

"He also kicked in the kitchen door as that was locked."

In the first break in the thief can be seen wearing a dark coloured North Face hoody but when he returns the second time he appears to have changed and is wearing a dark coloured top that is not branded.

Bekki said: "We definitely believe it was the same person. I just hope that he gets caught."

Included in the haul was a selection of branded gel nail products and other items Bekki and her colleague and self employed beauty therapist, Jenette Ingham, have been working on producing while the salon had to close during the Covid 19 lockdown.

The bottles of nail polish, nail files and scissors are instantly recognisable as they are emblazoned with the salon's name Bliss and Co and none of them have gone on general sale yet.

Bekki (29) said: "He took about 100 plus of our gel colours along with powder and glitter products and also eyelashes and other make-up.

"We have only just re-opened after the lockdown so this has set us back again as so many of our products have been taken."

The burglar also ransacked a sensory area Bekki had created on the second floor for mums to meet with their little ones.

The break-in happened the night after an almost identical burglary at the hair salon Style Residence in Keirby Walk where the intruder entered the premises after smashing the glass front door with a brick.

Bekki launched Bliss in Padiham when she was just 20 and eighteen months ago she moved the business to its Parker Lane base.

Married to Stacy, the couple have two sons, Theo (six) and five-year-old Olly and their third child is also a boy.

Also at the salon are Brogan Gizzi, a self employed hairdresser, who is still on maternity leave after having a baby, Danielle Coombe, who works for Bliss as a beauty therapist, Bliss make-up artist Keira Wilson and Aislinn O'Conner, who owns Secret Scents on the third floor.

Bekki said that while the break-in had left her disheartened, she was grateful for support from the police who have vowed to step up night patrols in the area.

Bekki added: "We have a full CCTV system in place but that didn't seem to deter this thief so we will be increasing security measures."

Anyone who thinks they may have information relating to the break-in is asked to ring police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting crime reference number LC 202008160600.