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Authorities have revealed new details about a million-dollar luxury glasses theft that led to the arrest of three men in Miami.
According to reports, Xavier Pérez, 52 years old, Lázaro Yansel Salazar, 27, and Alexander Trujillo Gómez, 48, a resident of Hialeah, are involved in the theft of over 3,500 pairs of sunglasses from brands such as Ray-Ban, Prada, and Gucci, valued at more than one million dollars.
The glasses were stolen from Sunglass Hut stores in Tennessee and South Carolina and mailed to Miami.
The investigation began when a Miami police officer, collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security, watched a report about the arrest of the suspects. This officer discovered that the stolen glasses were being sent via courier services to an address in the Flagami area of Miami.
“We received information that these glasses, which were being stolen in other states, were being sent by mail -via UPS- to a location in the city of Miami”, said Manny Morales, chief of the Miami police, reported the television network Telemundo 51.
Although the glasses were not initially found at that location, the authorities managed to contact an individual connected to the suspects, who, when confronted with evidence, handed over the stolen merchandise. Ultimately, the detectives recovered the glasses at another location in Miami.
“They thought that by going to another state they wouldn't be recognized”, Morales revealed.
His arrest was made possible thanks to the cooperative efforts between the Criminal Data Analysis Unit (CAD) of the Murfreesboro Police Department, license plate reading cameras (LPR), and the police departments of the cities of Smyrna (SPD), Henderson (HVPD), and Goodlettsville in the state of Tennessee.
Criminal data analysts from the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) of the Memphis Police played a key role in tracking the suspects' movements. The experts identified a 2022 Pacifica minivan, rented in Miami, as the vehicle used in the robberies; the van was seen in Goodlettsville on Wednesday, January 29.
The three detainees are facing charges for theft of property valued at over $250,000, in addition to charges for larceny and vandalism.
Cubans are also suspected of similar thefts at Sunglass Hut stores in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and in Gaffney and Beaufort, South Carolina.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information about this case to contact the Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers hotline.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Million-Dollar Luxury Glasses Heist in Miami
Who are the individuals involved in the luxury glasses theft in Miami?
The individuals involved in the theft are Xavier Pérez, Lázaro Yansel Salazar, and Alexander Trujillo Gómez, all residents of Miami. They were arrested for their participation in the theft of over 3,500 luxury sunglasses, valued at more than one million dollars.
How did the authorities discover the theft of glasses in Miami?
The authorities uncovered the theft thanks to the cooperation between the Miami police and the Department of Homeland Security, who identified a pattern in the shipment of the stolen glasses to an address in the Flagami area of Miami, through messaging services.
What charges are the Cubans facing for the theft of luxury glasses?
The arrested individuals are facing charges for the theft of property valued at over $250,000, as well as for theft and vandalism, according to reports from the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.
How did the suspects manage to transport the stolen glasses?
The suspects sent the stolen glasses via courier services to Miami, taking advantage of interstate transport to attempt to conceal their criminal origin. However, they were tracked down and arrested thanks to license plate reading technology and the cooperation between various police agencies.
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