A hairdresser whose salon was raided by a pair of brazen shoplifters is calling for them to be caught before they strike again.

They struck last Thursday, April 11 when staff had momentarily vacated the Stuart John Hairdressing salon, in Upper High Street, Epsom.

But they did not escape the beady eye of the shop's CCTV and now the owner Stuart Baker, has released the tape in the hope someone will identify them.

Mr Baker first noticed the pair walking past his shop on the CCTV monitor in his office at 2.30pm.

The woman stopped and stared at the GHD Candy Collections hair straighteners, which were displayed in the window, before the couple walked away.

Mr Baker, then went and stood at the front of the shop and, when the couple did not return, he went to use the toilet.

In the "split second" between him entering the toilet and the sole stylist at that time emerging from the staff room, the couple returned to the shop. 

The woman held open the door while the man picked up the straighteners, worth £110, and hid them under his coat before they both casually walked away.

CCTV footage passed by Mr Baker to this newspaper, which has been seen but not been released by Surrey Police, captures the couple red-handed. 

The woman was wearing a red jacket and black trousers, and the man blue jeans and a blue jacket.  Both have dark hair and the man has a distinctive black beard.

Mr Baker, 30, said: "When I saw the straighteners had gone I knew it was that couple. 

"They just walked in, they couldn’t care less.  I want them to be caught - not to get the £110 back, it’s about the principle.

"Otherwise they might as well go down every shop and take what they want for free.  They could clear out the high street if they wanted to."

Mr Baker, from Tattenham Corner, said he only started displaying the top-of-the-range hair straighteners in the shop's window in the last two months because of their expense.

He added: "It’s a difficult call because you have to display what you’ve got to offer customers."

He is making other shopkeepers aware of the incident, especially hairdressing salons displaying items in their windows, and hopes publication of the CCTV footage will help catch the couple.

A Surrey Police spokesman said a search of the area has not located the man or woman and they are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information should call the police on 101, quoting reference number EP/13/1494 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Do you recognise the couple in the CCTV footage?  Contact Hardeep Matharu on the newsdesk on 0208 722 6346 or email hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.