For the second time in just a few weeks, the Enlighten Hair and Tanning Salon has fallen victim to burglary. Ed Kendall, who co-owns the salon with Jody Niemi, expressed disbelief at the incident, especially as they had just replaced a door following the last break-in.
This salon was one of three in Vernon, B.C., that experienced a break-in within a five-hour span on the night of December 15, 2024. The other two salons were Emma’s Nails and the Hair Loft, which were burgled at 4:25 a.m. and just after 4:30 a.m., respectively, on December 16. The Hair Loft suffered the most, with Barbra Maxwell, the owner, reporting theft of all four stylists’ tools, from blow-dryers to trimmers.
Interestingly, at the Enlighten Hair and Tanning Salon, the thieves only managed to steal $100 from the till on December 15. The owners termed this incident as unusual since they typically don’t keep cash on-site.
The salon was hit again in a short span of time, leading the owners to suspect the same individual might be behind both incidents. This time, the thief left with an empty cash register, causing damage worth an estimated $3,000.
Following the incidents, the salon has taken steps to boost security, with the installation of gates and window bars.
The Vernon RCMP have noticed a surge in break-and-enters at local businesses. Over the last two weeks of December 2024, they responded to over a dozen such incidents. Corporal Tania Finn noted that the damage caused by the burglaries often outweighs the value of the stolen items.
Among the affected businesses was Artistic Hair Design on 31st Avenue, which experienced a break-in on Christmas morning. Owner Gail Soukeroff reported the theft of her chequebook, but no cash was taken. The latest victim was Happy Nails, which reported a broken front window but no theft, as they don’t store cash on-site. In light of these incidents, business owners are being urged to enhance their security measures to protect their premises.
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