Too much makeup can’t disguise crime

Greg Risling

COSTA MESA -- Police responding to a robbery at a beauty supply store

Monday say they discovered more makeup than they expected.

The report they received about a robber with a gun was false, police said

after arresting one of the store’s employees and her roommate on

suspicion of stealing $1,600.

Silvia Caballero, 22, who was working her last day at Sally Beauty

Supply, and 21-year-old Melina Vasquez, both of Costa Mesa, were arrested

and booked on grand theft and burglary charges. They are being held in

lieu of $10,000 bail.

Police said the duo conceived the plan Sunday night at the women’s

apartment. Reportedly desperate to pay some bills before buying Christmas

gifts, the two roommates thought they could make an easy killing at the

store, located in the 2200 block of Harbor Boulevard.

“They needed the money and it was Caballero’s last day of work at the

store,” said Costa Mesa police Lt. John FitzPatrick. “These weren’t the

best-laid plans.”

Shortly after the store opened, Caballero called police to report an

armed robbery. She told authorities a man wearing a Yankees baseball cap

pointed a gun at her and demanded money. She added the robber ran away

and said she thought he had a female accomplice who was serving as a

lookout outside the store.

As police responded to the scene, a motorcycle officer noticed Vasquez

walking across Victoria Street. He saw wads of money hanging out of her

sweatshirt pockets and believed she resembled the description of the

accomplice he had heard over his radio.

The plan crumbled when police led the alleged victim to where Vasquez was

being questioned. Caballero told police she thought the woman she saw

outside the store was thinner. But after asking her several questions, a

police officer asked something simple that made the case.

“The officer asked Caballeros if she knew the suspect [Vasquez],”

FitzPatrick said. “She told the officer that she was her roommate.”

Meanwhile, another officer held a man wearing a Yankee cap for

questioning. They let him go once authorities realized that Caballeros

had lied about the robbery.

Police recovered about $1,600 from the heist gone awry. Instead of paying

their bills the old-fashioned way, the two women may spend the holidays

behind bars.

“This was very sloppy on the part of the two suspects,” FitzPatrick

added. “I think with a little bit of luck, a quick response and excellent

observation by our officers, we were able to make an arrest.”