Though I’ve read time and time again that tattooists have not been affected by the current economic downturn, I still have a hard time believing it. Even if it were 100% true, the fact of the matter remains that economies around the world are turning to crap and people everywhere are starting to really feel the sting of it all in some way or another. So maybe tattooists themselves aren’t feeling too much of an effect of the crummy economic times, but it seems like someone in Houston, Texas either can’t afford to buy their own equipment or has just realised that there is easy money in pawning off stolen tattoo gear. Whatever the truth is, it ain’t good either way.
In July, Cynthia Courtney’s small shop on the East Freeway was ransacked. Thieves ran off with $18,000 worth of tattoo equipment.
Just last weekend, two tattoo shops were targeted. Rene Garcia, owner of Big City Tattoos in Southeast Houston, reported the theft of $3,000 worth of machines and supplies. Another shop on Westheimer also reported a burglary. The two separate surveillance cameras show a car of similar style leaving the scene of both crimes.
All I can say is that I hope the tattooists who were ripped off have insurance. That is so essential to all tattooists who run their own studios that I can’t emphasise it any more than I already have again and again on this blog. INSURANCE! And, if these artists don’t have insurance, then I really feel for them. I guess all that can come out of this is a stern warning to all other tattooists in the Houston area to batten down the hatches and guard your gear. If you don’t have insurance and you have a tattoo studio in the Houston area, do whatever you can to make sure your stuff stays safe. Good luck!