Police: Suspect steals $30,000 worth of hair extension from salon

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Prince George's County police said $30,000 worth of hair extensions were stolen from a hair salon in Upper Marlboro.

A surveillance camera inside the salon captured a man making off with tubs of hair extensions from Essence Hair Club. The business is one of about 30 small establishments housed within a facility called Phenix Salon Suites.

The manager said there was work being done on one of the shops in the overnight hours of July 11 going into the following day. He believes a door was left open and the suspect was able to walk in, break into the door of his shop and make off with the weaves.

Extensions and weaves are expensive and apparently there is a large market for stolen merchandise in our area.

"It's very expensive," said hair stylist Netrease Smith. "People work hard for their money. I dislike people who take from others because we work hard for our stuff."

Essence Hair Club supplies extensions to several of the salons in the building and it didn't take long for us to hear about other recent thefts, including one at the Phenix facility in Northeast D.C. during the week before.

A police report said there were two female suspects in that case and it happened during business hours. We are told they pepper-sprayed the shop owner.

"Same thing happened - the girl got robbed for all her hair," said Smith.

Why are these extensions so expensive? They are 100 percent virgin hair, which means it is human hair that has never been processed. According to Smith, one bundle costs from $100 to $120 and it takes about five or six bundles to make a full head of hair.

If you have any information about the suspect, you are asked to call 301-390-2160 or Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.