LAWRENCE — A nail salon and a Dunkin' Donuts were robbed Monday night, police said.
Officers went to Zena Professional Nail Center, 408 Essex St., at 8:46 p.m., where they were told a man entered the salon, held a small knife to the throat of the owner and demanded money.
One customer told police she was waiting for her nails to dry and the robber dragged the store owner over to where she was seated and took her purse.
Then, she said, he dragged the owner to the counter and demanded money again before reaching into a drawer and helping himself.
He stuffed the money into the front pocket of his jeans and fled, she said.
She told police her pocketbook contained her cell phone, two checkbooks, assorted bank cards and driver's license.
The amount of money taken from the salon is undetermined, police said.
The robber was described by the victim as light-skinned, about 5 feet to 5 feet 4 inches tall, in his mid-30s with a rugged build, clean shaven and a large head covered with black hair that was receding.
The owner of the salon was too distraught to talk to police and was checked out by Patriot Ambulance emergency medical technicians.
At 9:21 p.m., police were called to the Dunkin' Donuts at 104 Marston St.
Two employees reported that as they were getting ready to close, a man walked in, tossed a plastic bag on the counter and told them to fill it up and not say anything.
The robber fled, heading toward Woodland Street, with about $300.
Police searched the area without success.
The robber was described as about 5 feet 9 inches tall, wearing a blue-and-black checkered flannel jacket, dark-colored pants and a dark winter cap.
He appeared to have a scarf over his lower face.
The following were taken from area police logs for Monday:
Methuen
Car crash: 10 Ditson Place, two cars, no injuries, 8:08 a.m.
Car break: 165 Hampshire Road, 8:54 a.m.
Theft: 27 Camden St., bicycle taken, 3:18 p.m.
Car crash: 305 Broadway, car into a pole, under investigation, 11:06 p.m.
North Andover
Car crash: Royal Crest Drive at Turnpike Street, no injuries, 7:02 a.m.
Arrest: Nicholas Petralia, 25, 3 Emerson Court, driving under the influence of drugs, speeding, Hemlock Street and Massachusetts Avenue, 2:21 p.m.
Theft: 350 Winthrop Ave., wallet taken, 5:31 p.m.
Andover
Burglary: Chandler Circle, 10:19 a.m.
Theft: Charlotte Drive, 11 a.m.
Theft: Wild Rose Drive, two sets of golf clubs taken from garage, 6:24 p.m.
Lawrence
Car theft: 14 Forest St., 6:46 a.m.
Car break: 405 Riverside Drive, 8:29 a.m.
Car break: 131 S. Union St., 9:09 a.m.
Arrest: Angel Carrasquillo, 49, 8 Chestnut St., public drinking, Lawrence and Maple streets, 11 a.m.
Car theft: 100 Bailey St., 11:25 a.m.
Burglary: 13 Trenton St., 12:48 p.m.
Arrest: Daniel Nieves, 59, 201 Bailey St., public drinking, Pemberton Park, 1:15 p.m.
Car crash: Salem and Blanchard streets, no injuries, 1:32 p.m.
Arrest: Felix Ramirez, 62, 170 Spruce St., public drinking, Pemberton Park, 2:30 p.m.
Arrest: Oscar Rosa, 46, 23 Hudson St., public drinking, Pemberton Park, 2:30 p.m.
Arrest: Joaquin Ruiz, 55, 2 Lansdowne St., public drinking, Pemberton Park, 3:15 p.m.
Theft: 55 Erving Ave., 4:18 p.m.
Car break: 44 Gilbert St., 5:48 p.m.
Car theft: 261 Lawrence St., 6:25 p.m.
Burglary: 88 Allston St., 7:37 p.m.
Arrest: Carlos Cotto, 26, 6 Woodland St., assault and battery on a household member, 6 Woodland St., 10:22 p.m.
