By Drew Harwell, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

PORT RICHEY — An out-of-work hairstylist nabbed scissors, clippers and cuticle tools from as many as six local beauty salons before deputies snipped his run short and charged him with three counts of burglary, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said Michael Dirette, licensed for 20 years as a cosmetologist, may have smashed into the salons on Christmas Eve, pocketing hundreds of dollars in Zwilling scissors, Andis clippers and a cut of the salons' cash.

But a crimp came for Dirette, 39, when two witnesses told deputies he had smashed into and stole from the Pretty Paws Pet Grooming Salon in Hudson. Deputies tracked Dirette to a Travelodge motel room situated about a half-mile from each sacked salon. His room bristled with the stolen goods, a sheriff's report said.

It's unclear whether he was gathering the goods for his own use or to resell, deputies said.

Dirette was booked into the Land O'Lakes jail in late December for the Pretty Paws pilfering. Deputies on Friday tacked on two more charges for Christmas-time burglaries at Just Haircutz in Hudson and Natural Nails in Port Richey.

Dirette has been convicted on multiple charges of driving under the influence, fleeing or eluding law enforcement and assault. He was charged in November with assaulting a law enforcement officer but was released on bail two weeks before the break-ins.

Drew Harwell can be reached at dharwell@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6244.