Copper Thieves Cause Thousands In Damages At Hair Salon

HOUSTON, TX -- A local business was forced to close this weekend after thieves destroyed its air conditioning unit to steal the copper wiring, officials said.

The incident was reported on Wednesday at the Master Hair Design salon along the 17300 block of Stuebner Airline in Spring. Company officials said the incident resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damages to the property.

“It’s 84 degrees in the shop,” Stylist Erika Kitchen told Patch “I have to reschedule the clients I had coming in today.”

Three air conditioning units were damaged and will have to be replaced. Deputies said the thieves used a heavy chain to pull out the copper coils and wiring attached to the side of the building. Officials said no security surveillance cameras are located at the side of the building where the units were located, but were hopeful other nearby cameras might have recorded the incident.

Salon representatives said repairs are being made and the salon will reopen for business on Tuesday.

Copper thefts are normally committed by thieves who are are hoping to sell the copper for a quick profit, and it’s a growing problem for many law enforcement agencies. In 2006, the Houston Police Department formed a task force after a rash of high-dollar thefts from area stores and businesses. Two years later, an FBI report called copper theft a threat to the nation’s infrastructure.

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Image: Courtesy Erika Kitchen

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