Burglars Swipe Shampoo, Conditioner from Beauty Store, Find Empty Cash Register

The suspects have committed similar beauty shop crimes in Hermosa Beach

Two thieves took off with bottles of shampoo and conditioner but no cash from a Manhattan Beach beauty store burglary in October, police said Thursday.

The burglars -- who donned all-black clothes, hats and gloves -- smashed the front window Oct. 21 of a Planet Beauty on Rosecrans Avenue in Manhattan Beach, then meandered around the store for some time, officials said. Investigators released surveillance images of the burglars Thursday.

Surveillance video showed the two men searching the cash registers but finding no money, since businesses often put any cash into a safe at closing time, said detective Michael Allard of the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

He said the men sneaked off with more than 20 bottles of shampoo and conditioner.

“I’m guessing they will resell them,” Allard said. “I would imagine they would be selling more lucrative products, but you know, not all criminals are the brightest.”

Shop employees arrived to find a broken window the next day and noticed a huge chunk of inventory was missing from store shelves.

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Neither police or Planet Beauty employees could confirm the brands of the stolen shampoo and conditioner.

The burglars have been spotted committing similar crimes in Hermosa Beach at Vivadream Cosmetics and Fantasy Beauty Hair & Nails, officials said.

Police described the first subject as a white male, 20 to 30 years old, 200 pounds with sideburns and a stocky build. They described the second subject as a male adult, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 to 160 pounds.

“The whole purpose of breaking into stores like this is to make money,” Allard said. “I don’t think they’re using the products for personal use. It doesn’t look like they have very long hair.”

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