Oak Lawn police have released a new image of four of the nine persons who they say broke into a local beauty supply store, stealing human hair extensions worth $40,000-$50,000 in a well-organized smash-and-grab burglary.
The June 22 image captures two couples walking past the store on the 8700 block of South Cicero Avenue around 3:30 a.m. Anyone with information about them is asked to call Oak Lawn Police Detective Hennessey at (708) 422-8292
(708) 422-8292.
The foursome, joined by five others, returned wearing hoodies and gloves at 4:18 a.m., police say. The nine entered the building after breaking out a front window with a landscaping brick, authorities said.
A store security video shows the thieves bypassing the cash register with one emptying a box to get the high-end hair extensions.
The burglary occurred nearly two years after thieves stole hair extensions valued at $230,000 from the 35th Street Beauty supply Store in Bronzeville. Breaking through a wall at about 2 a.m. July 2, 2012, they disabled the alarm system before making off with the products made from human hair – and leaving the cash register untouched.
Hair Extensions magazine says users particularly prize un-dyed human hair extensions, which are the most natural looking and can be dyed, heated, styled, washed, and treated. The need to replace extensions several times a year creates a demand, and the extension are often found on the black market in venues ranging from car trunks to ebay.