Woman arrested for allegedly receiving lavish hair makeovers then sneaking out on salon tabs

A citizen’s tip helped police catch a 28-year-old Sylmar woman accused of scamming two Burbank hair salons when she took off without paying after receiving expensive hair treatments, police said.

One day last month, the woman, identified as Lavette Walter, went to de Cielo Salon and Spa, located in the 900 block of West Magnolia Boulevard, and received a five-hour treatment, which included coloring and extensions, said Burbank Police Officer Joshua Kendrick.

After receiving the treatment, the woman asked to use the restroom and slipped out the front door, leaving the bill, totaling more than $800, unpaid, Kendrick said.

The salon posted surveillance footage and information about the woman on its Facebook page, which caught the eye of another stylist claiming the suspect did the same thing to her at the Color Lounge salon in Burbank in January, scamming her out of $335.

Sai Hernandez, co-owner of Color Lounge, said after a credit card used by Walter, who went by Ashley, was declined, she left behind her old iPhone, saying she’d be back to pick it up and pay for the services.

“She never came back,” Hernandez said.

The day after the surveillance footage went online, police received a tip from a citizen who recognized the woman, after which authorities identified her and issued a warrant for her arrest.

Walter, who police said has an extensive theft history, was located by Burbank detectives on Thursday driving near State Route 170 and Sherman Way.

Police stopped her and arrested her on suspicion of burglary. She was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.