MENU
SEARCHAfter a string of Chicago-area robberies, salon owners and employees are reminded to take extra security measures.
This past November, two Zano Salon locations in the Chicago suburbs were broken into and robbed. The first was at 2:30 a.m.; the second two weeks later at 10:40 p.m. “The police said that they were in and out within 45 seconds to one minute,” says Sheryl Wieczorek, CFO of Zano Salons.
In each incident, the robbers entered through the front door, breaking glass in the bottom area of one of the doors and entering through the hole they created, not immediately setting off a sensor. They headed straight to the front cash drawers and took any large bills inside. They did not take any computers or salon retail products or cause any other damage.
“The cash drawer was unlocked, but if it was locked and the burglers messed around with the computers, the whole system could have been damaged,” says Denise Provenzano, co-founder of Zano Salons and president of Cosmetologists Chicago. “Luckily we had security cameras that caught footage of the robbers.”
According to Wieczorek, about $200 in cash was stolen per salon. But after replacing glass and other damages, the break-in equaled $2,200 in costs for one salon and $1,500 in the other.
These two robberies were part of a string of almost 90 salon burglaries across the Chicagoland area over the past seven months. About 15 of these “smash and grabs” were in Chicago, and the rest were scattered across more than 30 surrounding suburbs.
According to the Northbrook, Illinois, Police Department, most of the incidents occurred during the late evening hours before midnight. The suspects most likely were watching the salon at closing time, and in some cases the burglars’ vehicle waited in the parking lot until the last employee left.
SALON TODAY reached out to Instagram followers to identify other salon owners and employees who have been victims of robberies. The stories, unfortunately, flooded in. Salons being a target for burglars is not just a problem local to Chicago.
PROTECT YOUR SALON
“I have been robbed before, and it was by clients,” says Alexis Smith, owner of EmbellishU in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. “So how do I trust someone won’t break in? I have a security camera inside and outside. Motion sensors on all windows and stickers letting them know my business is alarmed. It’s a peace of mind for when you go home at night.”
Don’t ignore protecting your business before it is too late. Be proactive and take precautions. Northbrook, Illinois, Police Chief Chuck Wernick offers salon owners the following tips to reduce the risk of robbery:
Do not leave any cash in the register/ drawer overnight
Leave the register cash drawer open
Leave lights on in front of the store and, if possible, over the cash register
Check for any suspicious vehicles in the parking lot upon leaving the salon
“You need to take every precaution you can,” Provenzano says. “But if someone wants to break in, they will find a way. The best thing you can do is invest in a security camera for your salon.” She says that with security footage, social media has been a helpful tool in tracking down culprits.
Also, insurance is a necessary investment for your salon. Peter Young, account manager on property and auto lines at SASSI, recommends contents coverage and inventory coverage for salon owners’ property, and glass-breakage coverage for the store itself. He reiterated how important an alarm system is for theft prevention.
“Your business is like your baby,” Smith says. “You want to protect what you have worked so hard for.”
CASE, ALMOST, CLOSED
Luckily, in the Chicago string of robberies, one of the culprits has been arrested and charged with five counts of burglary. A second suspect still has not been found at the time this article was written.
Salon owners and employees offer their own advice and stories on Instagram:
“Our salon was once robbed by a man in a wheelchair he didn’t get far “—@thomp50n
“I hired a tactical self-defense instructor to come in and teach my girls how to protect themselves in case of an intrusion. We are instructed how to move around our stations and equipment and how to use our own tools to protect ourselves. He even taught us how to use shears to get away.”—@jakethegreat_88
“We never leave any stylist alone at the salon and we leave in twos. Whenever I feel nervous about a walk-in, I make sure I slip my shears into my vest—a sharp pair of shears is a great defense”—@hairhutco
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
