THIEVES raided a Greenock hair salon and made off with £4,000 worth of equipment and cash.

The hooligans smashed in storm doors at the Backstreet salon in Lynedoch Street and ransacked the shop.

The gang tore safes, containing an estimated £2,300, including staff bonuses, off the wall during the break-in on Saturday night.

A bumper stash of GHD hair straightners, curling wands and hairdryers, as well as gift packs of expensive Schwarzkopf and Nioxin hair products, were also taken.

Owner Donna Mitchell blames the break-in on a road closure caused by a burst pipe earlier that day.

She said: "It's really happened at the worst time. This is our busiest time of year, but the road was closed off and they took the chance of breaking in because the street was quiet.

"They smashed the front door to smithereens, ripped the safes from the wall and wrecked the shop looking for stuff." Donna, 32, who has had a business in the street for seven years, says she's disgusted.

She added: "It's put a damper on the Christmas run-up. I was really looking forward to Christmas - it's a special one this year because I've got a five-month old baby, Spencer.

"I've heard other businesses have been robbed in the area. It's absolutely disgusting. Nothing like this has ever happened before. Normally Lynedoch Street is really busy." The salon break-in is the latest in a spate of thefts at premises in the area.

Last week, M&J Timber was targeted, and the Fitzgerald Centre was broken into twice within a matter of days.

Donna will have to fork out a further £2,000 to repair the front door and burglar alarm until her insurance company pays out.

She is proposing that local traders join forces and put up a reward for information.

Donna said: "Something has to be done. These people are running amok." Sergeant Alison Kennedy, of Greenock police, said: "The incident happened between Saturday night and Sunday morning and we believe the break-in could be linked to other incidents at M&J Timber in Lynedoch Street between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and the Fitzgerald Centre on Wednesday morning and again on Friday morning." Anyone with information should call Greenock police on 492500, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.