Last Minute Client
Cara, or so she said, walked into a local salon one day. She was a frantic bride who needed her hair done for her engagement party that same day.
The stylist, Lana, took one look at her and knew she was in for a long day. But she had no idea just how long and hectic it would turn out to be.
Endless Demands
Lana's client was annoying and demanding; she didn't even have an appointment but begged for treatments to be done. Lana was a kind-hearted woman and tried to relate to the crying woman's plea, so she agreed to see her.
Little did she know that she was the center of a scheming plot that would leave her pockets empty.
Keeping Cool
Lana remained professional and completed her client's hair as per their request. When she went to the back to get more hair products, she returned to an empty chair. She had only been gone for a few minutes.
The worried stylist asked the other customers if they saw her client leave, but nobody noticed the lady. Lana ran outside, but her client had disappeared. What had happened to her client?
Missing Client
The frantic stylist asked the receptionist if she saw anything, and the receptionist said there was a strange lady who just ran out a few minutes ago. The receptionist tried to stop her, but she just ignored her and hurried off.
Lana was in tears and felt so embarrassed that she was tricked. She asked the building security for the footage to check if they could see anything. Only the video footage would prove what really happened.
Caught In The Act
Cara was caught on camera as she stealthily left the salon, driving off in a Dane SUV with the license plates removed. Lana was shocked at what she saw. The footage was clear, and she would notice that color style from a mile away; it was her specialty balayage. Women came from all over the city just to get their hair done by her.
Lana made an official report at the police station. It took a few weeks for the police to track her down, and when they finally did, they were in for a surprise.
We Have You Now
The woman they caught was not Cara. In fact, her name was not even close to Cara. She had lied to the police and the stylist, manipulating them into thinking she was someone she was not.
The police apologized to the lady for the inconvenience and for ruining her day and told her of the scams being pulled by women like Cara.
It Wasn’t Her
Lana, the stylist, was frantic as she explained how manipulative the woman was. She was happy to assist the police by notifying other salons about Cara so they could catch her.
Other top salons reported a woman who matched her description and said her name was Cara, but when they caught her, it wasn't her.
A Smart Conwoman
Lana described the expensive treatments she had done. She seemed to know a lot about hair and had definitely had her hair extensions done by a professional hairstylist just a few weeks prior.
Fake Cara wanted new extensions put in, as well as a root touch-up with a balayage. The treatments together came to $900.
Real Stories
Lana stood behind the fake Cara for hours, listening to her fake story about her fiancé and engagement party. She claimed that her bridal stylist fell ill at the last minute and couldn't see her.
She didn't know she was being scammed from the start. Cara was a real actress, and her story was believable. Lana felt stupid for believing her story and thought she should have been wiser.
A Thorough Search
The police took another look at the video footage and reached out to a few more salons. One of the regular stylists recognized her face; her real name was Mary Dane. She was a well-known con artist.
She had used the alias Cara for her hair salon scams around the town. Would they catch her this time?
Connecting The Dots
With the help of stylists, the police did a more thorough search. They saw a pattern with the stories in salons around the same area. The problem was that Cara kept changing her hairstyle so it was hard to spot her.
Cara was also quite a common name which is why it was so easy for her to pull the same stunt so many times.
Another Sighting
There was another report at a salon in New York where she had left her old iPhone as a supposed indication of her trustworthiness and claimed that she was going to withdraw cash to pay for the treatment.
However, she never returned. Cara matched her description and they were sure they would catch her the next time.
On The Ball
Sure enough, a few weeks later, the local police received a call of a cut and run. The salon owner remembered her friend Lana who warned her about this hairstyle fiend and immediately called the cops.
The salon owner described a frantic lady named Cara who said she needed her hair done immediately for her engagement.
We Are On The Way
A police vehicle was sent out immediately to catch the hair scammer. An officer spotted her vehicle close to Time Square and Route 170. They followed her vehicle for a few miles and saw that she was heading out of town.
The shady Cara noticed the cops following her and became agitated. She started driving recklessly, swerving in between the cars to try and lose the cops. She was causing an obstruction, and other drivers were hooting at her.
We Have You Surrounded
After a small car chase, Cara's vehicle was cornered off at a busy exit. Two police vehicles blocked her from trying to escape.
Police were able to confirm Dane's identity and swiftly make an arrest thanks to the concerned citizen who provided them with the tip-off about the woman's real identity. Dane was arrested on suspicion of burglary for walking out on her bills and was set bail of $20,000.
Criminal Caught
Dane was embarrassed and defensive. She did not take getting caught lightly and put up a fuss. How could she be so stupid to use the same name again?
The hairdresser had the last laugh. Dane was finally in custody. Lana felt a bit bad for the crazy lady, but this was business, not personal.
Online Remarks
Dane's actions sparked outrage on social media, with many people calling for her to be held accountable for her actions. Some people argued that this type of behavior was unacceptable and that those who didn't pay their bills should be punished.
They felt that the salon owners and stylists deserved to be paid for their hard work.
Many Naysayers
Others argued that the root cause of this type of behavior was poverty and the lack of access to financial services. They felt that the government should do more to help those who were struggling to make ends meet.
The online argument caused a stir, but the verdict was final, you have to pay for services rendered.
Facts Are Facts
Regardless of the opinions of others, the fact remained that Mary Dane had stolen from the salon and that she was facing serious consequences. Lana wanted justice and the reputation of her business to be upheld.
She was going to have to pay her outstanding bill and face the consequences of her actions. Why should she be treated any differently?
A Fair Trial
In the days that followed, Dane appeared in court and was sentenced to pay a fine of $900 and serve 200 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay back the money she owed to the salon and other salons she had scammed.
But would this be enough for the lying lady to change her ways?
A Lesson Learnt
Dane was humbled by the experience and realized that she had made a huge mistake. She had never imagined that her actions would have such severe consequences and that people would be so hurt by what she had done.
Lana wasn't fooled by her apology at all, "A leopard can't change its spots," she said.
I Am Sorry
Over the next few months, Dane worked hard to make amends. She did her community service and paid back every penny she owed to the salon and others she had scammed. It seemed as though she was determined to bring back some pride to her name.
Lana did not forgive her that easily and said that it would take time to trust her again.
Not That Easy
Dane understood Lana's issue with her. Her experience taught her a valuable lesson, and she learned to appreciate the hard work of others.
She also learned that there was no easy way out of financial problems and that she had to be honest and upfront about her situation. Her stealing caused a lot of problems for innocent people.
Let This Be A Reminder
Dane's story spread quickly and became a cautionary tale for others who might be tempted to walk out of a salon without paying. People learned that it was wrong to take advantage of others and that honesty was always the best policy.
But will this really change the hearts of the schemers out there? In a world full of people looking for a quick fix, it is hard to tell who is really genuine.
Not All Is Well
In the end, Dane rebuilt her life and established herself as a responsible member of society. She learned that every action has consequences and that it was important to always be honest and treat others with respect.
She tried her best for Lana to forgive her, but Lana said that she could never be her friend.
Think About Others
Dane's story reminds us all that we should always be mindful of the impact of our actions on others. Whether we are struggling financially or not, stealing is wrong.
Many people are going through the same financial struggles, and it's not fair to impose that on anybody. If you want to enjoy the finer things in life, then you have to earn them.
Money Doesn’t Grow On Trees
If you're ever tempted to walk out of a salon without paying, remember the story of Mary Dane and think twice before taking advantage of others.
Ask yourself if you really need a new haircut. Or is it something you can do without? Instead, find a way to pay for the services you receive and treat others with respect.
Keeping Strong
Lana, the stylist, continued to work as a hairdresser. All the drama with Mary made her quite popular, and she got many new clients. Most of the ladies just wanted to hear the story from the horse's mouth.
It was all the gossip for a few months, especially with woman really named Cara. Stylists tried to laugh it off, although identity proof became a regular request.
Another Culprit
There were also other reports of sly women trying to pull the same stunt all over the country. Some women seem to want expensive hair care but don't want to pay for it.
Lana's other stylist friends prevented a few more hair chancers from a cut-a-run. Their immediate answer is to name and shame these women so they won't be able to continue their scams. Lana started a Facebook page for salons around the area to post pictures of the scammers or go Live on their feed if there are any altercations.
Protect Your Business
The lesson to be learned from this story is to never judge a book by its cover and to always be cautious when dealing with people who are not forthcoming about their identity.
Lana had to take extra steps to get justice done as a business owner. The next time a frantic bride walks into a salon and says her name is Cara, the stylists will think twice before taking her on as a client.