Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — A recent burglary at a downtown nail salon is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
Just before 3 a.m. Thursday, someone used a rock to break the glass door at WaterCreek Nails and Spa, 315 W. 600 South in Salt Lake City.
Police say a man then entered the business and caused an estimated $15,000 in damage.
"The person did extensive damage to the property, including ripping out the sinks from the walls, breaking all the equipment, smashing all the products," Sabrina Nguyen, whose parents own the salon, posted on her Instagram page.
"Ripped apart all the wires that's connected to the security cameras," she told KSL. "He even went through the drawers and grabbed a couple hundred dollars."
The vandal also used black spray paint to leave a derogatory phrase on the wall in large letters. Nguyen's parents are from Vietnam. They opened their salon 10 years ago.
"I am disheartened by so much hate in this world," Nguyen said. "It's so hard to come to that conclusion that people actually look at you in a certain way and feel hatred toward you just because you're born a certain way."
Nguyen shared pictures of the damages on her Instagram page to raise awareness about what happened. On Saturday, she posted a message thanking the community for the support her family has received since news of the vandalism was shared.
"It's given (my parents) motivation to make this place a better place to be and make everything so much nicer, and they want to give back to the community," Nguyen said.
Police say the vandal was seen leaving the area with two other men. As of Monday, no arrests had been made.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at 801-799-3000.
Contributing: Shelby Lofton
