LOS ANGELES, CA – Police are searching for a man and woman accused of stealing approximately 25 pairs of designer eyeglasses worth more than $10,000 from an optical store in Santa Ana.
The theft occurred at a LensCrafters location at 3370 S. Bristol Street, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.
Investigators said the two suspects entered the business together and initially appeared to be ordinary customers browsing the selection of eyewear.
Surveillance footage showed both suspects casually examining and trying on different pairs of glasses inside the store.
At some point, however, the male suspect began removing multiple pairs from a display and concealing them underneath his shirt, according to police.
The woman allegedly participated by handing additional pairs of glasses to the man, while he also removed merchandise directly from the shelves.
The pair eventually left the store.
Employees later discovered that roughly 25 pairs of designer eyeglasses were missing.
Police estimated the combined value at more than $10,000.
Authorities have not publicly released a complete inventory of the brands or individual models taken.
They also have not said how long the suspects remained inside the store or whether employees interacted with them before they left.
Detectives believe the male suspect may have been involved in other similar thefts.
According to investigators, he is suspected of being a repeat offender who may have targeted multiple locations operated by the same eyewear retailer throughout Orange County.
Police have not disclosed how many additional thefts are potentially connected to the man or how much merchandise may have been taken in those incidents.
No arrests have been announced.
The investigation comes as retail theft continues to draw significant attention from law enforcement agencies across California.
The Santa Ana Police Department uses crime-analysis tools to identify patterns, geographic concentrations and potential repeat offenders across the city.
City records describing the department’s crime-analysis system say investigators can use information about reported incidents to identify crime trends, possible serial offenses and recurring suspects, helping detectives compare cases that may initially appear unrelated.
That type of pattern analysis can become particularly important when the same person is suspected of targeting multiple stores.
In the latest case, surveillance footage appears to be a central piece of evidence.
Investigators are asking members of the public to examine the suspects’ appearance and contact detectives if they recognize either person.
Police have not said whether the suspects arrived together in a vehicle or whether exterior cameras captured a license plate.
Authorities also have not disclosed whether the stolen glasses have surfaced at resale businesses or online marketplaces.
The value of the merchandise could affect the criminal allegations considered if suspects are eventually identified.
Under California law, the precise charges in a retail theft case depend on factors including the value of the merchandise, the circumstances of the theft and evidence showing whether multiple people acted together.
No formal charges have been filed because the two suspects remain unidentified and wanted for questioning.
The Santa Ana Police Department has previously documented theft-related activity in the commercial area surrounding South Bristol Street.
In city planning records involving a nearby property, police reported that calls for service within a 500-foot radius included shoplifting, petty theft and grand theft, among other incidents. Those statistics provide general neighborhood context and are not connected to the current LensCrafters investigation.
The latest theft appears to have been carried out without violence.
Police did not report any injuries, threats or confrontation with employees.
Instead, surveillance footage allegedly shows the suspects using distraction and concealment while appearing to browse normally.
Retail theft investigations frequently rely on store surveillance footage, transaction records, witness statements and comparisons with incidents at other locations.
In this case, detectives already believe the male suspect may have appeared in additional investigations involving other eyewear stores in Orange County.
Authorities have not publicly identified those locations.
They also have not said whether another police department or regional investigative team is assisting with the case.
Santa Ana has invested in additional public-safety camera infrastructure in recent years.
City Council records show the city authorized an expansion of security camera infrastructure along Bristol Street as part of a broader Police Department technology project.
There is no indication that those city-operated cameras captured the suspects in this particular case, and the known footage was recorded inside the store.
Investigators are now focusing on identifying the two people seen in that surveillance video and determining whether the male suspect is connected to additional thefts.
Police have not released their names, ages or hometowns.
Anyone who recognizes either suspect or has information that could assist detectives is asked to contact Detective R. Wilson at 714-245-8551 or [email protected].
No arrests had been announced as of the latest information released.
The investigation remains ongoing.
