FRUSTRATED business owners were left thousands of pounds out of pocket after three raids in the space of a day.

Thieves struck at John Michael hairdressers, in Sir Isaac’s Walk, causing mayhem but carelessly leaving a lighter behind at the scene.

The break-in was one of three burglaries at town centre shops across a 24 hour period.

Two members of staff turned up at John Michael to find the front window had been smashed.

The ground floor had been ransacked and more than £1,000 worth of products were stolen.

A computer, keyboard and iPod were also taken.

However, the crooks accidentally left a lighter in the till drawer.

Zoe Adams, from John Michael, said: “We arrived at about 8.30am on Thursday. Someone came inside with me just in case anyone was still in there.

“They had smashed through the front window, it was such a small hole.

“They stole a lot of products and had pulled out every plug so we weren’t able to turn the internet or card machine back on. The desk area was hideous.”

They believe the raid must have been carried out by at least two people.

The culprits had even used the salon’s knives from the kitchen to break into the lockers. Some staff tips were also taken.

Two knives had been left out the next day, as well as a blue lighter, found in the till drawer, which had been taken out and placed on a chair.

Zoe added: “They had used a paving slab to break through the window, but the slab has now gone.

“We had to throw our waiting chair away because it was ruined.

“The computer is used for all our booking and payments, everything is done on there.

“The stock had only been in the shop for about 12 hours, it does affect business massively.

“We have pre-warned everyone else as we need to stick together. Everyone has been so lovely.”

On Thursday night, thieves threw a brick through the front door of Alter Ego hair salon, in Church Street, Colchester.

Owner Nick Mitchell, who has run the salon for almost three years, said more than £1,000 worth of stock was stolen in a raid on the shop’s ground floor.

“It is horrible this is happening,” he said. “There is little or nothing we can realistically do about it.

“It is a disruption and it’s not nice knowing someone has decided they have the right to take whatever they want. “But life does go on and we have to move forward.”

Family business Collectors Cave, in Sir Isaac’s Walk, was targeted for the second time in a week on Thursday night.

Thieves again smashed their way in, stealing around £200 worth of stock.

Anyone with information about any of the raids can contact Essex Police on 101.