LOS ANGELES, CA — Six people, including three juvenile suspects, have been arrested in connection to a $2.68 million string of burglaries targeting high-end eyewear businesses around Southern California.
The smash-and-grab crew targeted numerous optical retailers in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties between February and July, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. As part of the investigation — officially titled “The Shade Snatchers” — authorities determined the crew followed a playbook for each burglary, police said.
“The suspects used stolen vehicles, usually older SUVs or pickup trucks, to crash through store fronts and bypass security measures during the early morning hours,” reads an LAPD statement.
“Once inside, multiple suspects carrying laundry baskets or storage bins quickly stole designer eyewear, handbags and other merchandise before fleeing in coordinated convoys of follow-up vehicles,” the statement continues.
The losses from the crimes total some $2.68 million in stolen property and nearly $500,000 in property damage, police said.
A surveillance footage still showing what police say are some of the suspects burglarizing Trendy Eyes in Manhattan Beach. (LAPD)
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and examined forensic evidence to link vehicles and suspects to multiple crime scenes, police said.
“The stolen vehicles used to ram through property doors were often taken from South Los Angeles neighborhoods hours before the burglaries, and several key secondary vehicles were consistently seen trailing or leaving the crime scenes,” police said.
LAPD investigators worked with police departments in Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Pasadena, Alhambra, Beverly Hills and San Diego to “share case notes, video footage, vehicle data, and evidence,” police said.
A list of locations burglarized by the crew, according to police. (Los Angeles Police Department)
Police have identified “at least” 10 suspects, including gang members and repeat property-crime offenders. Six people identified as primary suspects have been arrested, police said.
Three are described as juveniles; their names and ages were not released.
The adult suspects are Phillip T. Harris, 37, of Bellflower; Orlando D. Neal, 37, of Los Angeles; and Rasheed Reed, 25, of Compton.
“A total of 26 counts of Burglary and Grand Theft were filed, along with additional firearm-related charges, including possession of an assault pistol, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a silencer,” police said.
Police say the pictured evidence was recovered during the investigation. (LAPD)