Two local businesses hit by separate burglaries

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River Falls Police are investigating break-ins at Fantastic Sam's, 1587 Paulson Road, late last Thursday night, Jan. 24, and at Designer Doors, 702 Troy St. in the industrial park, between Jan. 18 and 21. Neither case has been solved yet.

At Fantastic Sam's hair salon, someone apparently got in by smashing the window of the front door and crawling under a bar. The suspect, or suspects, may also have gotten out the same way.

The intruder set off a motion sensor inside that triggered an alarm.

Officers arrived quickly and secured the salon after finding it empty. A cash register inside had been dumped on the floor. The owner said no money was kept in it anyway.

Less than a year ago Fantastic Sam's was burglarized and the suspect -- who was never caught -- did get away with money from a cash register.

At Designer Doors, someone got in through a rooftop hatch and dropped into a storage room and workshop below. The intruder made off with pneumatic nailers, toolbox, printer, circular saw and an air compressor valued at $475.

This burglary wasn't immediately discovered. Police are still chasing down leads.

Police are also investigating a purse theft at Curves for Women, 107 N. Main St., last week Monday afternoon, Jan. 21.

The purse belonged to an 88-year-old local woman working out at Curves. Her purse was hanging next to her coat on a hook.

Two female suspects, possibly of Somali descent, are suspected. The pair asked about Curve memberships but then left.

They were described as small and slight of build. One had a limp.

Shortly after finding her purse and its contents stolen, the River Falls woman learned that one of her credit cards had already been used to make a $644 purchase at Walmart in Woodbury, Minn.

For more, please read Police Beat in the Jan. 31 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: news, crime, courts