Thief scoops sunglasses from multiple stores in Waterloo Region

CTV’s Karis Mapp has more on a thief who only has eyes for sunglasses.

A string of thefts across Waterloo Region has local business owners double checking their security footage.

Michelle Tran is the owner of Eyedentity Optical in Kitchener.

She said on June 17 a man came in around noon and asked about a pair of sunglasses for his brother’s birthday.

“He was actually very personable. He was talking about his family, talking about different celebrations,” Tran recalled.

The man seen on the shop’s surveillance footage asked about a pair of sunglasses in a different colour, and Tran used a computer to check availability because she didn’t carry the product in store.

“Each and every time, he asked me a different question or asked about booking appointments or something so that I could be distracted and looking something up so he could be taking something from me,” she explained.

Tran said he used a decoy to replace a set of frames on her wall, before slipping the designer sunglasses into his pocket.

It wasn’t until two weeks later when Tran was helping another customer, that she realized the swap.

Tran, who has been an optician for 15 years, described the glasses he left behind as a cheap pair of acetate that were well worn with scratches on the lenses.

The man also took two other pairs, bringing the total cost of the loss to over $1,500.

“The other two were actually on displays. So, it wasn’t on the frames where I would notice a hole. It’s just how I would set something up on a table,” said Tran.

“I was really frustrated and I felt violated because you welcome someone into your store and you welcome them with respect, and yet he stole from me.”

When reflecting on the situation, she realized his confident demeanor and lack of nerves likely meant he had done this before.

She posted her surveillance footage to social media and other local optometry offices responded with similar stories.

“As of right now, there have been six stores that have reached out to me, which is really scary,” she explained. “It was the same day. It was within a couple of hours, and he just had a path that he was going on.”

Other businesses targeted

Eyes on King in Waterloo and Hespeler Village Optical in Cambridge both shared security video with Tran, showing a similar looking man in the same clothes, taking glasses from their stores.

Pierce Family Vision in Waterloo was targeted.

“It was around 11:15. He wasn’t here very long, maybe five minutes total,” said Sarah McLean, an optometric assistant with the company.

“He tried a few pair of sunglasses on and then just grabbed our expensive frames and put it in his pocket, looked at another frame and then walked out the door.”

Although the man only took one pair of glasses, they were valued at over $650. It was their first reported theft in over a decade.

“We encourage people to try them on, see how they look. You don’t expect people to open their pockets,” McLean told CTV News.

Police Response

Both Tran and McLean filed police reports about the theft.

“These investigations are being conducted independently. However, they will be investigated in the event they are connected,” said Waterloo Regional Police Service Const. Brad Hickey.

Regardless of how much time has passed, police encourage businesses owners to file a report if they believe they have been involved in a similar situation.

If someone comes in and steals merchandise, police advise business owners not to intervene.

“You definitely do not want to put yourself in harm’s way. Be professional, contact us and let the officers come and assist you,” added Hickey.