$30,000 in sunglasses stolen from Napa business

By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

Buyers beware. Those in the market for a pair of designer sunglasses need to be on the lookout for anyone peddling the costly eyewear.

The Eye Care Center of Napa has been hammered with a staggering loss after the store on Trancas Street and Villa Lane was broken into early last Sunday morning.

The thieves made off with $30,000 worth of Gucci, Coach, Maui Jim, Oakley and other stylish shades, according to store spokesman John Pecora.

The burglars smashed the front plate-glass doors, cut through a plastic film, entered and then used a tool to pry the door out, Pecora said. “The alarm went off, but they were in and out before the cops got here within five minutes.”

This is not the first time Eye Care Center has been targeted.

On Aug. 3, a window was shattered, allowing the thieves access to the store.

“They took nothing but designer sunglasses,” Pecora said. “Our store in American Canyon was burglarized on Sept. 7, and we have had two shoplifting incidents there — same thing, designer sunglasses. We are getting pretty fed up with this.”

Pecora said the stores are equipped with surveillance cameras, but so far, they have not been able to get a good description of the culprits.

Napa Police Cmdr. Andy Lewis said the sunglasses are “an attractive target for thieves. They are small, making it easy to take a lot of glasses at one time, and they are expensive. They are most likely being sold at flea markets, on the street and even online for around $300.”

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