Police seek suspects linked to nearly 90 beauty salon burglaries

NORTHBROOK, Ill. (WLS) -- Investigators from 32 law enforcement agencies are searching for two men who are suspected in nearly 90 burglaries at beauty and nail salons.

Police said the burglars have struck 16 locations in Chicago and 70 in the suburbs since August 2015.

Surveillance video captured by the Jeffrey LaMorte Salon and Day Spa in south suburban Frankfort shows one man using a tool to shatter glass near the front door before walking inside and rifling through the front desk. The owner said the damage to the spa was extensive, but the thief did not get away with much.

"He came walking in and rifled through the desk. There was nothing there. He broke into our office door and that's where he found a couple bucks that were like, tip dollars," Jeffrey LaMorte said.

Investigators said in each incident, one man burglarizes the salon while the other waits in a getaway vehicle. Police said surveillance video also recorded the suspects breaking into salons in Northbrook and Highland Park. The burglars struck CK Salons in north suburban Grayslake in January.

"It is not like we have a lot of cash. Most people today pay with credit and debit cards. So I don't understand why they think they are going to be so successful achieving a monetary gain by breaking into a hair salon," said Chris Klem, owner of CK Salons.

To deter burglars, some salons have signs posted near the front door that say "no cash overnight."

CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward to find the two burglary suspects.

Police have not released much information about the men - only that they appear to be in their late teens or early 20s. The getaway vehicle is described as a dark, midsize, four-door sedan.