Wairarapa police are investigating a spate of burglaries over the weekend in which products and tools worth thousands of dollars were stolen from two hair salons and a barbershop.
A Carterton salon was targeted in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the thieves forcibly entering the premises shortly after 3.25am by breaking down a side door.
Headquarters Hair Design has been owned and operated by Leia Cooper for 21 years and, although there have been a few botched attempts over the years, this is the first break-in the business has suffered.
Between $3000 and $3500 worth of stock was taken during the theft, mainly GHD hair straighteners for retail sale.
There would be additional costs for insurance excess on the broken door, which Cooper is considering is considering replacing with a new, more secure one.
The entire incident was captured on high resolution CCTV, Cooper said.
It is evident from the security footage that there were at least two people involved in the burglary, who parked outside the salon in a silver Ford Falcon on Saturday morning before walking up and down the footpath, likely checking the coast was clear.
The break-in set off the salon’s alarms, which Cooper believes prevented the thieves from stealing even more.
The product that was stolen was stored in a backroom, and Cooper is unlikely to continue to stock it due to the incident, instead just ordering it on behalf of specific customers.
“It’s a worry now because there just doesn’t seem to be any empathy anymore in our communities. There’s crime all the time – they just think it’s their right.”
That said, local businesses have been “incredible” with their support, and Cooper added she’s “determined to not let it upset us all and change who we are because that means these people win twice”.
Another victim of the burglary spree was Stay Sharp Barbershop in Eketāhuna, which was broken into on Sunday night at about 11.30pm.
CCTV footage from a nearby business has also recorded a silver Ford Falcon at the scene.
The thieves smashed the window of the store’s main door to gain entry before stealing what owner and operator Nick Olliver estimates was a few thousand dollars worth of tools and products.
All the product that was available to sell was taken, as were open and used products, razors and multiple other tools – although some of the most expensive tools weren’t.
“It’s obviously amateurs that don’t know what to look for because they left a lot of valuable stuff,” Olliver said.
He expects it will cost at least $1000 to be operational again – excluding restocking products for sale.
Stay Sharp has only been open since September last year and has been doing relatively well since its opening.
Olliver said the burglary has not only affected him but also his entire family, including his mother and children.
“That’s my livelihood, my tools and my trade,” he said.
“I can’t earn money to feed my kids without that stuff.
“What would they do if they had their livelihood taken away and they weren’t able to feed their kids?
“I came from nothing, I had to work my way up to get to this stage.
“We’ve all worked hard – you can’t just go ripping us off expecting to get to the same place.”
A third salon – D’vine Hair and Beauty in Martinborough – was also ransacked on Saturday night.
Eketāhuna constable Richie Day said police are investigating the three incidents as being connected and officers across the region are working closely together.
The current theory is that the thieves plan to open their own home salon, given much of the equipment stolen would not be suitable for personal use or by an inexperienced individual [Olliver said some of the equipment stolen from his shop would be “dangerous” in inexperienced hands].
Day confirmed that a silver Ford saloon-style car was identified at all three incidents and is of interest to police. replacing with a new, more secure one.
The entire incident was captured on high resolution CCTV, Cooper said.
It is evident from the security footage that there were at least two people involved in the burglary, who parked outside the salon in a silver Ford Falcon on Saturday morning before walking up and down the footpath, likely checking the coast was clear.
The break-in set off the salon’s alarms, which Cooper believes prevented the thieves from stealing even more.
The product that was stolen was stored in a backroom, and Cooper is unlikely to continue to stock it due to the incident, instead just ordering it on behalf of specific customers.
“It’s a worry now because there just doesn’t seem to be any empathy anymore in our communities. There’s crime all the time – they just think it’s their right.”
That said, local businesses have been “incredible” with their support, and Cooper added she’s “determined to not let it upset us all and change who we are because that means these people win twice”.
Another victim of the burglary spree was Stay Sharp Barbershop in Eketāhuna, which was broken into on Sunday night at about 11.30pm.
CCTV footage from a nearby business has also recorded a silver Ford Falcon at the scene.
The thieves smashed the window of the store’s main door to gain entry before stealing what owner and operator Nick Olliver estimates was a few thousand dollars worth of tools and products.
All the product that was available to sell was taken, as were open and used products, razors and multiple other tools – although some of the most expensive tools weren’t.
“It’s obviously amateurs that don’t know what to look for because they left a lot of valuable stuff,” Olliver said.
He expects it will cost at least $1000 to be operational again – excluding restocking products for sale.
Stay Sharp has only been open since September last year and has been doing relatively well since its opening.
Olliver said the burglary has not only affected him but also his entire family, including his mother and children.
“That’s my livelihood, my tools and my trade,” he said.
“I can’t earn money to feed my kids without that stuff.
“What would they do if they had their livelihood taken away and they weren’t able to feed their kids?
“I came from nothing, I had to work my way up to get to this stage.
“We’ve all worked hard – you can’t just go ripping us off expecting to get to the same place.”
A third salon – D’vine Hair and Beauty in Martinborough – was also ransacked on Saturday night.
Eketāhuna constable Richie Day said police are investigating the three incidents as being connected and officers across the region are working closely together.
The current theory is that the thieves plan to open their own home salon, given much of the equipment stolen would not be suitable for personal use or by an inexperienced individual [Olliver said some of the equipment stolen from his shop would be “dangerous” in inexperienced hands].
Day confirmed that a silver Ford saloon-style car was identified at all three incidents and is of interest to police. replacing with a new, more secure one.
The entire incident was captured on high resolution CCTV, Cooper said.
It is evident from the security footage that there were at least two people involved in the burglary, who parked outside the salon in a silver Ford Falcon on Saturday morning before walking up and down the footpath, likely checking the coast was clear.
The break-in set off the salon’s alarms, which Cooper believes prevented the thieves from stealing even more.
The product that was stolen was stored in a backroom, and Cooper is unlikely to continue to stock it due to the incident, instead just ordering it on behalf of specific customers.
“It’s a worry now because there just doesn’t seem to be any empathy anymore in our communities. There’s crime all the time – they just think it’s their right.”
That said, local businesses have been “incredible” with their support, and Cooper added she’s “determined to not let it upset us all and change who we are because that means these people win twice”.
Another victim of the burglary spree was Stay Sharp Barbershop in Eketāhuna, which was broken into on Sunday night at about 11.30pm.
CCTV footage from a nearby business has also recorded a silver Ford Falcon at the scene.
The thieves smashed the window of the store’s main door to gain entry before stealing what owner and operator Nick Olliver estimates was a few thousand dollars worth of tools and products.
All the product that was available to sell was taken, as were open and used products, razors and multiple other tools – although some of the most expensive tools weren’t.
“It’s obviously amateurs that don’t know what to look for because they left a lot of valuable stuff,” Olliver said.
He expects it will cost at least $1000 to be operational again – excluding restocking products for sale.
Stay Sharp has only been open since September last year and has been doing relatively well since its opening.
Olliver said the burglary has not only affected him but also his entire family, including his mother and children.
“That’s my livelihood, my tools and my trade,” he said.
“I can’t earn money to feed my kids without that stuff.
“What would they do if they had their livelihood taken away and they weren’t able to feed their kids?
“I came from nothing, I had to work my way up to get to this stage.
“We’ve all worked hard – you can’t just go ripping us off expecting to get to the same place.”
A third salon – D’vine Hair and Beauty in Martinborough – was also ransacked on Saturday night.
Eketāhuna constable Richie Day said police are investigating the three incidents as being connected and officers across the region are working closely together.
The current theory is that the thieves plan to open their own home salon, given much of the equipment stolen would not be suitable for personal use or by an inexperienced individual [Olliver said some of the equipment stolen from his shop would be “dangerous” in inexperienced hands].
Day confirmed that a silver Ford saloon-style car was identified at all three incidents and is of interest to police.
