A SALON owner has spoken out after a failed smash-and-grab raid on her business caused thousands of pounds of damage.

The crooks, two boys on a moped, targeted Nicky’s Nails on High Road, Benfleet.

Echo:

Scene - the damage inside the nail bar

Essex Police said the two boys described to be wearing dark clothes and helmets were seen breaking the windows of Nickys Nails, they then drove off on a moped towards the B1014.

Owner, Nicky Monro, 41, said she now feels very uneasy and will do so until she can install shutters to keep her salon safe in the future.

She said: “My partner and I were in bed and our phone went and then police were banging on our front door.

“My first thought and worry was that a family member had been taken ill, or even worse.

“I got down to the salon at about 3am and there was already a man there boarding up the salon front.

“There was just glass everywhere, I’ve been told a neighbour called the police and thinks it was two men on a moped.

“I don’t know who this neighbour is but I’d like to thank him.

“Nothing was taken but they smashed the nine-foot window which has metal running through it for the alarm.”

She said she felt relief that police were not there to tell her about a family member being involved in an incident and that no stock was actually taken.

She said she felt gutted when she saw the damage to her shop.

She said: “This shop was my dad’s shop for 42 years and he ran a travel firm here, so I was upset as I still see it damaged.

“I have worked hard to develop my own business and to think someone feels they can come along and do this is wrong.

“I feel very stressed out at the moment and we’ve boarded up the shop, but it’s cold and dark for customers.

“I feel like until I’ve saved up and got a shutter, which would be about £2,000, we are vulnerable.”

It happened during the early hours of Saturday morning, but the owner was determined to open the same day.

Anyone with any information should call Essex Police with crime reference number 42/143193/19.