SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) -
High end hair heists is a trend sweeping the country as thieves are getting away with thousands of dollars worth of hair. Because of that, many beauty supply stores across the Ark-La-Tex have been on high alert.
But why is hair such an increasingly popular target for thieves? And what are local stores doing to protect their product?
Amanda Chamberlin who works at Waves of Color Salon and Spa says "it's just like a Coach purse or a Dooney purse that's really popular."
"Everybody wants it, it's very popular."
M&M hairstylist Allen Arkasas and Best Buy Beauty Supply store manager Marquita Jackson know why because hair is their business.
"Sew ins, glue ins, you can wear it 3-4 months, kinky straight, straight, permed yakki, silky yakki, French, refined, Indian; we do anywhere from 40-60 weaves a week," said Arkansas.
Why so popular? She says because more celebrities are wearing them.
But celebrities aren't the only ones wearing them. The hair extensions business has become a multi-billion dollar industry.
In a San Francisco, California, thieves were caught on tape breaking in, grabbing armfuls of pricey hair extensions and then taking off.
"It's amazing what people steal these days."
Theives in Atlanta and Houston who broke into hair supply stores quickly skipped over the cheaper hair and headed straight to the high end hair, and in minutes, got away with tens of thousands of dollars worth of hair.
"Hair extensions I guess are like an addiction, and people steal all the time to get drugs they are addicted to"
Despite many hair stores not putting price tags on the hair, thieves are, in minutes in the dark, able to determine which hair is the best quality, and most expensive, something that certainly takes a special eye.
For example, you could have two packs of hair instance, same color and same length, but one costs $29.99, the other one costs $150.00.
Although Jackson says they've only had a few encounters with thieves at their store on Lakeshore Drive, She certainly knows what to look for.
"There's gonna be one to distract, one to spot you, and then there's one that's gonna steal."
Which explains why extra eyes are a necessity.
One of the first things you see when you walk in the door are surveillance video cameras, that are just as in beauty supply stores, as they are banks and jewelry stores
"Our surveillance cameras are 24-7 and we have 20 cameras in here."
And it doesn't stop there like many beauty supply stores in the Ark-La-Tex, Jackson says they use code words to communicate if they think someone is trying to steal from them. They put magnetic sensors in their pricey hair, and they don't give prices over the phone.
"We also have SPD come in and do a walk through daily."
If anyone is caught stealing from them, there is a little assurance from the store management.
"We will press charges,no questions asked."
Police say stealing even one pack of hair can get someone a misdemeanor and possible jail time.
And breaking in to a store and/or stealing more than 500 dollars worth of hair can also get someone a felony, with jail time.
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