A VANDAL pulled a hammer from his trousers and smashed the front window of a hair salon.

A gang of four caused thousands of pounds of damage to Luna Grace Hair on Southchurch Road, Southend, on Saturday night, just hours after a launch party at the business.

CCTV footage shows the masked and hooded men throw stones and kick the windows of the business before a hammer is used.

Beth Gutheil, owner, has been left devastated by the attack just two months after taking over the site.

She said: “We had our launch party on Saturday night on our two month anniversary, and all left about 9pm.

“The lady upstairs had heard the trouble going on, so rang me and the police to say the store had been vandalised. It was just awful and I was in so much shock,

“I went down there straight away, boarded up the place, and checked our cameras out the front. You can see one of them lent over next door’s garden and took a stone, before throwing that at the front door.

“They kicked the side panel and the one with the T-shirt over his head pulled a hammer out of his trousers.

“One of the boys even filmed it on his phone.”

Echo:

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Disgusted, the business is an invaluable asset Beth holds close to her heart - having even named it after her daughter.

It is believed the incident, which took place around 10.30pm and saw four windows smashed, caused £2,000 worth of damage.

She continued: “I guess it was targeted but I don’t know why or by who.

“It does make you scared as a business owner to even get the glass replaced in case it happens again. We just never expected this to happen, it’s so brazen and careless.

“Financially it has set us back, but we got everything cleaned up and were back open Monday morning.

“But it does break your heart, my kids always come down here and spend the day with me while I’m working.”

Call 101, quoting the crime reference number 42/175695/21.