Three Miami men are facing charges in connection with a multi-state theft ring involving over $1 million worth of eyewear stolen from Sunglass Hut stores. Alexander Trujillo Gomez, 48, Xavier Perez, 52, and Lazaro Salazar Hechavarria, 28, were arrested in Tennessee on charges including burglary, theft of property valued at $250,000 or more, and vandalism, according to Murfreesboro Police officials. Police said the men burglarized a Sunglass Hut store on Sunday, making off with nearly $285,000 worth of products and $2,000 in cash.
The three men are also accused of carrying out similar burglaries at Sunglass Hut stores in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and in Gaffney and Beaufort, South Carolina, authorities said. Police were able to track down the suspects after learning they had rented a Chrysler Pacifica minivan in Miami, which was used in the heists. The minivan was spotted on Wednesday when the trio attempted to ship three boxes of stolen sunglasses to Miami. However, they were refused service when they refused to open the boxes and reveal their contents, according to police.
A license plate reader eventually tracked down the minivan after the suspects had successfully shipped the stolen goods to Florida via a UPS store. Authorities intercepted the shipment and took the trio into custody. The three men were booked into a local jail, each being held on a $1 million bond. The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects could face additional charges related to the other thefts in Tennessee and South Carolina, officials said.
