Thieves cut through drywall to steal high-end skin cream from Kamloops beauty salon

For nearly five years in downtown Kamloops, salon owner Lucy Mardres never had any issues involving break-ins, but in the last three weeks, her business was broken into twice and she’s out nearly $2,000 from the thefts — mostly skin cream.

“I’ve always been in this location and have never had any issues until now,” Mardres says.

Inspire Esthetics Studio located right on Lansdowne Street was first broken into in late December, according to Mardres. The salon owner says she came in one morning to find both locks on her doors had been damaged.

Thieves cut a hole through the drywall at Inspire Esthetics Salon and unlocked the door to gain access into the salon. | Photographer: Karen Edwards

“There was money missing and a lot of my skin care was stolen,” she says, adding the skincare that was stolen were products that are exclusive to her salon.

The prices on the products range from $50 to $150, she says. 

In the second and most recent break in, Mardres walked into her salon last Friday morning to find a hole that had been cut through the drywall to unlock the door.

Mardres noticed they stole more of the same skincare products and also some random items including two pairs of her runners, donations for the Kamloops food bank, scissors and a jug of water.

“We are pretty sure they are transient people that are doing the break ins,” she says. “There were bicycle tracks to clean up in the foyer but unfortunately no fingerprints.”

Both times, Mardres reported the incidents to police and has also put  out a call to social media if anyone sees the skincare products, HydroPeptide, being sold locally online through Kijiji or Marketplace to let her know or let the Kamloops RCMP know.

For now, Mardres will be installing security cameras in the upcoming days. Anyone with information on this case can call the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and cite file number 20-1160.

The hole made by thieves from the outside of the salon. | Photographer: Karen Edwards


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Karen Edwards

Originally from southern Ontario, Karen Edwards moved out west after completing her journalism diploma at Durham College. She first began reporting in northern Alberta for a small town newspaper. The busy two-person newsroom taught Karen the importance of accurate and fast reporting. Now working for iNFO News, she is excited to report in a larger community. Karen has written for all kinds of news, including education, crime and mental health. Her background also includes video journalism and documentary production.