A MAN was seen smashing through a window and entering a nail bar during an early morning raid.
Five Star Nails, located in Salisbury but owned by Basingstoke couple Emily and Tommy Ho, was burgled in the early hours of Tuesday morning, July 23.
CCTV cameras reportedly caught a man breaking and entering the nail bar at around 1.30am.
The man threw a large brick through the window and searched around the shop before attempting to batter his way through the rear exit to no avail.
The suspect was then seen leaving through Bridge Street shortly afterwards.
Police officers were on the scene at 11.30am the same day to carry out forensic enquiries and help clean up the shop.
The window which the burglar broke was swiftly boarded up but it will cost owners Emily, 29, and Tommy, 38, Ho hundreds of pounds to replace.
The couple, who live in Basingstoke, opened Five Star Nails in November as Mr Ho wanted a "new challenge" after working as a Vietnamese chef in Sweden and fell in love with Salisbury.
They assume the intruder rummaged through a cabinet expecting to find cash although it's all taken home every evening.
Three customers were booked in for nail treatments on the morning of the break-in and several walk-in customers had to be turned away until the shop was safe to open.
Despite the inconvenience, the couple said that their customers had been very understanding of the circumstances and offered to return later.
Read more: Anokaa, Fisherton Street, vandalised by group of youths
This break-in comes just over a month after a teenager cracked a front door belonging to Anokaa in Fisherton Street.
Several other businesses have fallen victim to criminal damage and vandalism but the owners believe this break-in may have been more sinister.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: "We’re investigating a burglary which occurred at Five Star Nails in The Maltings, Salisbury, at approximately 1.45am this morning.
"Enquiries are currently ongoing and we would urge anyone with information to call 101 and quote crime reference number 54240085850.
"Alternatively, call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
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