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Police: Woman Claims To Have Brain Cancer, Steals $400 Wig From Boutique For Cancer Patients

LATROBE (KDKA) -- For more than two decades, a boutique in Westmoreland County has been helping women who are going through some of the worst times of their lives as they deal with illness and other issues.

But, recently, a woman came in claiming to be a customer, saying she had cancer.

State Police say they're not sure whether she is actually battling the disease, but they're pretty sure she made off with a $400 wig from the shop.

Beth Howell is a long-time employee at Wigs 'n More in Latrobe. When the woman walked in with two men last Saturday, Howell says she knew something was up.

The men and woman, who said she was very sick and needed a wig, were caught on surveillance video.

"I had a weird feeling from the start," said Howell. "She said she had brain cancer. She started pulling wigs off the shelves to try on."

But it quickly became apparent to Howell that in addition to a wig, the woman needed to get her story straight.

"She did say she was from Apollo, then Avonmore, which are two separate towns not even close to each other," said Howell.

The woman's male friends kept trying to get Howell's attention as the woman was changing hairstyles by the second.

"She was fluffing them up and fixing them, pushing them off to the side," said Howell. "She grabbed two long ones off the shelf and didn't look at colors or anything."

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Within moments, the woman was done pulling wigs off shelves and trying them on.

"She said none of them worked and they were out the door," said Howell. "Ladies come in here and spend two hours picking the perfect wig."

Later, Howell said they discovered one of the wigs missing.

"We were short a wig, and it was a $400 long blond wig," Howell said.

Just like the one the alleged ailing customer had been modeling.

"If she had it, we would of helped her. She didn't have to steal a wig," Howell said.

If you happen to recognize any of the individuals in the surveillance video, State Police are asking you to contact them at 724-832-3288.

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