Business forced to close doors for the day, make home visits after attempted theft leaves owners scared
A beauty salon at Karama was forced to close its doors and take its service to a customer’s home, after an attempted theft shook staff.
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A BEAUTY salon at the Karama Shopping Centre was forced to close its doors on Friday and take its service to customer’s home, after an attempted theft shook staff.
Therapeutic Thai Massage and Beauty owner Kiss Wattanaporn Kokai said she and her staff felt scared when a group of 10 youths, aged in their teens, raided drawers and the shop front for petty cash.
“We had trouble with the kids here so we were scared and we rung any customers to cancel their bookings,” she said. “They asked me for my phone and my money, I said ‘I have no cash’ and they said ‘How come? You are a business’.”
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After Ms Wattanaporn Kokai went to the back of the store to call police and her husband, the group went through the drawers, and held the interior door closed so the workers could not stop them.
The staff were so shook they only tended to one regular customer, who is a senior with a health condition, at her own home.
“This customer, she is really old and anytime she comes the neighbour brings her here. That day she had a one o’clock booking,” Ms Wattanaporn Kokai said.
“We asked her if we could go to her. That customer always comes here and is a good person. We know her well, like a friend.”
Therapeutic Thai Massage and Beauty has reopened since Friday’s incident.
Police told Ms Wattanaporn Kokai the youths were known to them and had caused trouble at the North Lakes shopping centre the same morning.
Member for Karama Ngaree Ah Kit, who was in her office based in the shopping centre on Tuesday, announced a ‘Coffee with a Cop’ forum would be held at the shopping centre this Friday.
“Police are continuing to engage with local business, community groups and local members to address issues as they arise,” she said.
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“This week I will attend a meeting of traders to continue to hear their feedback, and have arranged for the police to run a ‘Coffee with a Cop’ event inside Karama Shopping Centre.”
NT Police Superintendent Sean Parnell said Police attended the incident but were unable to stop the alleged offenders.
“NT Police are disappointed these disturbances occur within the community, we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure public safety,” he said.
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