A BARBER is furious after his Blackburn business was raided for the third time this year.

In the latest break-in, thieves smashed in through the roof of New Look Barber Shop, King Street, and stole cash from a charity box, said police.

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The incident happened some time between 4am and 4.30am on Sunday — and owner Muner Edan has been left furious by the raid. He said the break-ins are costing him time and money and he has called for increased security in and around the town centre.

Mr Edan, who has run the business from King Street for two years, said: “I am very angry. I am just trying to run a business to provide a future for my children and these people are preventing me from doing so. There needs to be increased security in the area. If this continues I do not know if I will be able to carry on.”

Mr Edan, 49, said the shop was first broken into on January 19 after thieves smashed through the back door. In that raid they stole clippers, trimmers, money from the charity box and change from the till. In the wake of that he spent hundreds of pounds bolstering security, which foiled an attempted burglary a week later.

But on Sunday, thieves removed slates to break through the roof of the building and steal the charity cash, police said. Mr Edan, who lives in Blackburn, said: “I came down to the shop on Sunday and saw the front door was open.

“I knew there was something wrong because I do not open on Sundays. I went in and found a big hole in the ceiling and a hole in the roof. The place was a right mess. It is upsetting because I am going to have to spend time and money repairing it and improving security. I just do not have time to do it. When I am not open it costs me money. I just do not know how much more of this I can take.”

Police said: “Two unknown offenders gained access through the roof of the shop. They have taken some cash from a charity collection box. I urge any witnesses to contact us.”

Anybody with information should call police on 101, quoting log number 1043 of July 17.