MICHIGAN COMPUTERS STOLEN Close shave: Thieves can't stop 'Hair for Homeless' event | detnews.com | The Detroit News:

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Close shave: Thieves can't stop 'Hair for Homeless' event
George Hunter / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Hair extensions, blow-dryers and other items meant to pamper and boost the confidence of homeless women were stolen Tuesday from a westside beauty school -- just hours before the school hosted its "Hair for the Homeless" event.

But the proceedings went on as planned, thanks to employees of the P&A Scholars Beauty School and others who hurriedly donated items.

The school, in partnership with New Clientele Magazine, held its third annual "Hair for the Homeless" event, in which local shelters bring homeless women to the school for free pampering, including facials, hairstyles, hair weaves and manicures.

When employees of the school in the 12000 block of Grand River reported for work Tuesday morning, they found that someone had used a crowbar to pry open the rear door. All the products that had been donated for Tuesday's event had been stolen, along with 13 computers used by the school's 100 cosmetology students to study, and a computer used by staff to track attendance and other student information.

"We ran around like crazy and got people to donate items so we could make the event happen," said the school's president, Lakia Hairston. "We planned for this event all year, and we weren't going to let whoever did this ruin our event."

Items were donated from staff, students and local beauty salons, she said.

"We're offering a $1,000 reward for the return of the black HP computer, which is used for attendance, and a $500 reward for the 13 Dell computers," Hairston said.

Hairston said the burglar or burglars left behind the crowbar used to gain entry into the school. "The police couldn't get prints from the crowbar, but they dusted the entire area," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit Police at (313) 596-2200.

ghunter@detnews.com (313) 222-2134