Following a month-and-a-half-long rash of commercial burglaries, officers of the 111th Precinct called a special meeting on Friday, October 20 to put local nail salon owners on the alert and to inform them of ways to protect themselves and their customers.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), the pattern, which includes eight burglaries in the 107th, 109th and 111th Precincts - five nail salons, two Dunkin' Donuts, and one other - began on September 3 when the two armed suspects held up a Bell Boulevard nail shop.
Their next “hits” were a salon on Northern Boulevard on October 2, a Queens Boulevard Dunkin' Donuts on October 5 and a nail salon on Francis Lewis Boulevard on October 8. The most recent robbery was on October 14, when the suspects allegedly held up two locations - 12-39 150th Street and 47-39 Bell Boulevard - within one hour.
Despite the warning to be extra vigilant, Sue Yang, owner of a nail shop on Bell Boulevard, said, “I feel pretty safe.”
The suspects are described as males between the ages of 18 and 30, 5’5″ to 5’8″ tall. One has short spiked hair, the other has tattoos on both arms, a possible tattoo on his neck, and is well built.
The pair may also be tied to two robberies in Nassau County.
Officers handling the case say that the perps – who have made off with as much as $600 in each incident and rob not only the establishment, but also the customers – target nail salons because most workers and patrons are female.
Their MO (method of operation) is as follows: After 5 or 6 p.m.
(close to closing time, when there are fewer people in the shops) the suspects enter the stores through a front door, display a gun and steal the cash. They then exit through a side or rear door, and use a stolen car - often a late-model minivan or Chevrolet Caprice, which they later abandon - to make a getaway.
Police say that the crime spree investigation is hindered by the fact that most nail salons are not equipped with video surveillance.
However, Faith Carter, the Crime Prevention officer at the 111th Precinct, offered a few simple steps that business owners can take in order to safeguard themselves.
“One concern is when salons have their doors wide open,” she said.
Carter told owners and workers that doors should be shut and locked at all times and recommended that a buzzer system be installed. She also said that bright security lights should be used to illuminate the outside of shops, especially during the coming darker winter months; that an alarm system with a remote panic alarm (similar to that found on cars) should be put in place, as well as closed-circuit television (existing systems should be checked to ensure that they are functional).
Stressing vigilance and observation, Carter said, “The more security you have, the less chance you will become a victim.”
Salon owners agree, to a certain extent.
“The customers have to get in and out,” said Yang. “Sometimes the extra [security] is not convenient.”
Deputy Inspector Scott Hanover, Commanding Officer of the 111th Precinct, urged that anyone who sees suspicious individuals call 9-1-1 immediately.
If you have any information regarding this case, call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
