ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A high-dollar heist during regular business hours has many people questioning the robbers' choice of stolen goods.
Four masked thieves were caught on video breaking display cases and grabbing merchandise, before running off, all within a matter of minutes. But they weren't making off with jewelry, but brand-name eyewear.
"Shock, like what's going on?" Pedro Prudencio said of his own reaction and that of fellow employees at MyEyeDr. as the robbery happened. "And then I kind of, I don't know, instinctively kind of also was like, 'OK, the police are on their way' and I think it kind of worked."
Police say the masked robbers got away with more than $20,000 in merchandise and damage at MyEyeDr. in Alexandria.
This is not the first time thieves have gone after eyeglasses. Just since the end of last year police have been looking into a half dozen similar crimes.
Starting with a Bethesda LensCrafters back in December, police say thieves have hit eyeglass stores in Chevy Chase, Georgetown, Arlington and McLean.
"They're in there within a matter of minutes and then they're just quickly flipping and selling them for whatever they can make on them," said 2nd Lt. Ian Yost with the Fairfax County Police Department. "They're targeting those high-end eyeglasses."
And no prescription is needed to make a profit on the black market.
"As long as you have the brand name and you're kind of showing it off," said Prudencio.
Police are hoping someone will see something in videos of the crimes that leads to a break in these cases.
In the meantime, Prudencio says his store has its guard up.
"Now we do have the door locked at all times now," he said.
Correction: An earlier version of this story identified the business robbed as MrEyeDr. The name of the business is MyEyeDr.
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