WASHINGTON – Police are searching for the two suspects who stole $5,000 worth of eyeglasses from Georgetown Optician.
The break-in occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday, according to Washington DC police. The two suspects were caught on surveillance cameras fleeing in a silver Dodge minivan after stealing about $5,000 worth of eyeglasses from Georgetown Optician. They were traveling northeast on Wisconsin Avenue, police said.
Tanita Yates is a manager at the LA Burdick dessert shop next door.
“I hope they (the business) are OK. I hope God blesses them and everything and makes everything better. This can’t happen to your business. People need to eat. Families need to eat. When I saw this, it broke my heart. It really broke my heart. I hope they fix this,” Yates said.
Last year, the Georgetown Opticians branch on the Wharf was targeted by thieves who stole 81 pairs of designer eyeglasses valued at $140,000. In the most recent incident on Thursday, the suspects stole five pairs of glasses, according to police.
Guy Williams of DCA Landscape Architects next door said he knew the shop owner in Georgetown.
“I really feel bad for businesses like this that are an important part of the community. They’ve always been here. People have really taken advantage of that and nobody knows how to fix the problem because he (the owner) has all the security measures in place… he has cameras, security guards, everything and has followed through and even taken it upon himself to find out where my stuff goes when it gets stolen?” Williams told FOX 5.
Williams said the Georgetown store has been here for several years.
“I think the sad thing that affects a lot of small businesses and small business owners is that certain types of businesses are targeted because they sell the goods that they steal and that they can make a high profit on,” he said. “I think a lot of people are sad that…why do I have to make insurance claims over and over again when it’s just going to make my insurance premium even higher? Then you’re not really getting to the root of the problem.”
Anyone who can identify these suspects or this vehicle or has knowledge of this incident should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text their tip to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.
The Metropolitan Police Department is currently offering a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for a crime committed in the District of Columbia.
