Thief intimidates worker in Orpington tanning salon robbery

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 8 Oct, 18:44 · Archive

A man dressed in a grey tracksuit robbed Beau Tanning Lounge in Orpington on October 3, intimidating a 19-year-old worker.

A thief was caught on camera raiding Beau Tanning Lounge in Orpington, south-east London, on October 3, when only a 19-year-old employee was on duty. The man, dressed in a grey tracksuit, entered through an open door while the worker was cleaning a tanning bed. When she returned, she found him attempting to take a drink from the salon's fridge. Footage shows the staff member trying to stop him before he intimidated her and escaped with cash.

Salon owner Lucia Halliday, 32, said she is 'devastated and sick to my stomach' over the incident. She said she believed the man had been loitering outside and waited for the employee to step away before entering. Halliday said she keeps the door open because she thinks it looks more welcoming than a locked door, but acknowledged the thought of someone intruding the space is 'horrific'. She said the worker 'just feels very anxious now' and it will 'take her a little while' to recover.

Halliday called police and forensic teams attended the scene because the thief had grabbed the fridge without gloves. She is still determining how much money was taken. The salon owner said: 'We thought it was time to smash it now and then this happened. I would like to hope we can survive it.'

How it is being reported

• Orpington tanning salon thief caught on camera intimidating 19-year-old workerOrpington tanning salon thief caught on camera intimidating 19-year-old worker before fleeing with cash on October 3, as police investigate the robbery.This Is Local London · 8 Oct, 18:08
• Orpington tanning salon thief caught on camera intimidating 19-year-old workerOrpington tanning salon thief caught on camera intimidating 19-year-old worker before fleeing with cash on October 3, as police investigate the robbery.News Shopper · 8 Oct, 18:08

In this story: Lucia Halliday · Beau Tanning Lounge · Orpington

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