“This thing real hard, hard because is Christmas”, beautician Odeth Greaves said yesterday as she stood near a smashed cupboard at the North American Beauty salon on Robb Street, which was hit by bandits for the second time in just over a month.
Why now? Beauticians at North American Beauty Salon were looking for answers yesterday after turning up to find that the salon had been hit by bandits. From right are Odeth Geaves, Samantha Porter and Inga Grenion.
On the last occasion bandits cut a grill door to the back of the salon and gained entry, this time the break-in was more destructive – a section of a concrete wall was smashed in and the rubble destroyed two toilets resulting in the salon being flooded out. It is believed that the break-in occurred in the wee hours yesterday.
Empty cupboards and cleared-out shelves greeted Greaves as she opened the salon yesterday morning around 9 am, and her heart sank. She described the feeling as “extremely painful” given that just recently they were forced to restock the salon and start over. It took a week for the beauticians at the salon to get back on their feet following the last break-in in late October, but they managed to do so with limited resources. This time it might take longer, but Greaves is praying for a miracle since according to her, it is Christmas.
“This is rush hour for us, we see more customers now than we do any other time all year so we can’t afford to not be in business, somehow we will start over again”, she said with some anger in her voice and deep agony.
As she explained how hard it is for her to accept another break-in, Greaves pointed to the area where water was filling up in the salon. A gaping hole was visible in a concrete wall to the west of the building where the bandits gained entry- a fan was also destroyed. Greaves pointed to the two toilets in the salon that were smashed in by the concrete rubble, adding that the start-over would also involve repairs.
When Stabroek News visited the salon the police had not been called in as Greaves and another beautician were estimating their losses. She gave a figure close to $15,000 for her personal losses, but pointed out that three other employees were still to add to that figure.
The idea of the police being called in was initially rejected by Greaves since according to her, nothing has come of past investigations involving the salon; there were six previous break-ins. She said the police only show up and that is about it.
“I am not sure if they do any work after they leave because this keep happening to us and we survive them, but we never hear of anyone being caught or anything like that”, she said.
But after some advice Greaves decided to ring the police. As she dialled the number, she pondered what to say then it came to her. She would report yet another loss at the salon and if the police feel like showing up they could.
You need to invest in some form of security, it is going to save you money in the long run. I am sure the thief/thieves are those Junkies that parade up and down Robb Street all day and night. Check your competitions, I am sure you are going to find you items there.
oh my goodness! you are sure right about a security camera and then again, i wonder if this would be a deterent for the bandits.
at this time of the year..i do hope you get some answers to this from the poilce…but if you were break in as many times as you claim why not invest some money on security….which may or may not help but it would make sense to try and fail that fail to try…good luck hope you can be back on the market very soon…..
security camaras are useless(in guyana)the thieves will thief the camaras, what is needed is periodical checks to your buisness, you are solely responsible for the protection of your buisness, nobody else is,my sugestion is pay someone to do checks every two hours or so during the night, if you cannot afford it then do it yourself its your buisness,not doing so is dumb.
ODETH,I WOULD KEEP CALLING THE POLICE, EVERYTIME THERE IS A BREAK IN. I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION OF NOT GETTING RESULTS OF PAST BREAKINS AFTER REPORTING THE MATTER TO THE POLICE, BUT I WOULD CONTINUE TO REPORT & KEEP A RECORD OF RESULTS. MAY YOU ACHIVE SUCCESS IN REFURBISHING YOUR STORE& THINK ABOUT SECURITY SURVIELLANCE. IT MIGHT BE REWARDING IN THE END.
OMG, this is sad. I know the beautician, Odeth, she used to do my hair……..
hold it up girl and invest in security. if not relocate, you are an easy target it seems.
security security security security, have an alarm and cctv installed.
” She said the police only show up and that is about it.”
Take heart.
That they show up is good.
If you do not report, then?
What about insurance coverage?
They would not pay unless they see a police report.
So ladies…report the break-in to the police….regardless.
Well Sra Odeth, what else? try replacing the stolen articles, and keep on working, or would lose some good money making days, try installing an alarm system!
install an alarm with a massive siren, and red lights activated. this will alert the neighbours or passerby.
i remember reading the last report, good luck to you and hope more customer support you so you can stand on your feet again.