Business undeterred by break-in


 

WINSTED — As she approaches her 30th anniversary as a Winsted business owner, Sandra Lemelin says she is not going anywhere, despite being the victim of a burglary at her Main Street hair salon over the weekend.

After closing for the evening on Friday, Lemelin said she was caught off guard by a series of phone calls early Saturday from neighboring business owners at Cackleberries, a restaurant next door to the salon, and the Winchester Police Department, informing her that her beauty salon had been broken into during the night.

After an investigation, Lemelin said nothing was damaged in the store and the only thing taken was some money she had in a desk.

"I am still shaken, because you feel so violated," said Lemelin, "but I think in a sense I am glad that I had the money in there because if they didn’t find the money, they might have destroyed the place."

While police are investigating the burglary, Lemelin is confident that the culprit was not a local.

"I am really thinking that it wasn’t any of my customers and I am thinking that it is someone from out of town," said Lemelin. "I really do get along with everyone in the community. Winsted has been a great town in the last 29 years."

Main Street businesses have seen an influx of crime in the last two weeks.

On Nov. 2, around 12:40 a.m., Dunkin’ Donuts was forcefully entered and money was taken from a cash till. Later that morning, at Winsted Pawn and Jewelry a burglar lifted merchandise in a smash-and-grab style break-in.

According to police Chief Nicholas Guerriero, the two incidents were seperate. Julio Caraballo has been officially implicated in the Dunkin’ Donuts burglary. The Winsted Pawn case is still under investigation.

Other area establishments have also been hit, including the Red Rooster Cafe in the west end of town and Tucker, Villa Mia and Silverbrook Cafe 10 minutes north on Route 8 in Sandisfield, Mass.

Lemelin said about six months ago similar crimes took place on her block with Cackleberries, Dick’s Appliance and ABC being burglared. Her door was damaged with pry marks, but the burglar in that case never gained access to her store. No information was available from police as to suspects in those cases as of Tuesday.

Although a criminal was successful in stealing from her this weekend, Lemelin is not ready to close up shop. In fact, she is offering her customers discounts to help them get through the holidays and tough economic times.

"For something bad to happen, something really good came out of it. The community really stood around me," said Lemelin, who said one customer even installed two deadbolt locks on her backdoor free of charge to prevent a repeat burglary. "Winsted is really a great town."

Hair Too is located at 246 Main St. and is open Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 860-379-2030.

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