Where do stolen hair extensions end up?
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Human hair has become one of Houston's hottest commodities. In the past few weeks alone, there have been five instances of thieves targeting businesses that sell hair extensions.
Where does the stolen merchandise end up?
"People selling it outside the trunk, outside the club. I even seen people holding up a sign saying they selling human hair outside the apartment," said beauty supply store owner Debria Pickney.
Human hair has become a lucrative business for crooks because it's almost untraceable. There are no serial numbers or anything identifiable for police to prove it's stolen.
"You've got cats that I know are known drug dealers that used to sell drugs and now they're no longer drug dealers. They're weave dealers," said Brashae's Beauty Supply Store owner Don Hilliard.
Thieves are ramming stolen trucks through walls and climbing through sheetrock just to get their hands on the goods.
"They wouldn't be stealing it if there wasn't a demand for it on the black market," Hilliard said.
A quick search of "hair extensions for sale" on Craigslist or eBay yields plenty of results. In 2013, four women were arrested after they allegedly broke into a store, stole $12,000 worth of hair and then tried to sell it on Instagram.
Human hair costs between $115-$200 if purchased from a beauty supply store. On the street, you could purchase the same thing for around $40-$50.
"Hair is the easiest thing to get rid of on the market. It's quick money. It's quicker to sell hair than it is to sell a TV," Pickney said.
Because it is such a target, some store owners refuse to carry high end hair anymore. Many of those who are still selling it are on edge, hoping their shops aren't targeted next.
Click on the map below to see each of the reported robberies.
There have been no arrests in any of the recent thefts. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS (8477) or text TIP610 plus the tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.
