Police Release Surveillance Images In String Of Burglaries At Chicago Area Salons
(CBS) -- Police in Northbrook have released surveillance images related to a string of recent burglaries at Chicago area hair and nail salons.
70 burglaries have occurred in 31 suburbs and 16 in Chicago since last August. In Northbrook alone there have been eight burglaries, with some salons hit twice.
The most recent incident occurred last Saturday. Police say one of the thieves typically says in the car, a dark, four-door midsize sedan, while the other enters the business for about a minute.
"They may be watching the establishments when they close, when they lock up," said Northbrook Police Chief Charles Wernick. "From video we see two offenders. One remains in the car. One breaks out the front door glass of the business."
The thieves tend strike between 8 p.m. and midnight, sometimes hitting multiple salons in the same night, stealing cash and jewelry and in once case a laptop.
Wernick tells WBBM that the best thing salons can do to prevent being burglarized is to take simple precautions such as not leaving cash in the register after closing hours and leaving lights on near the register so thieves know there's nothing to take.
Chief Wernick also tells WBBM that salon employees should "be aware of anyone in the parking lot near the business when they leave."
Northbrook Police have been in touch with all the other communities and have released surveillance images of the suspects. Cook County Crime Stoppers have offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.