Óptima, an optical company, was robbed again early on Sunday morning, February 1st, at one of its two locations in Torrevieja, less than a week after two robberies in Elche’s La Marina neighbourhood and Murcia’s Los Alcázares. The value of the stolen goods is still being determined by the business after it completes its inventory, but it is expected to be several tens of thousands of euros. According to sources close to the inquiry, 250 to 300 pairs of glasses from well-known brands, some worth thousands of euros, were stolen.
As happened the previous week, the criminals – two as in prior robberies – used only two minutes to take a haul of high-value glasses and leave before the Security Forces arrived.
This third robbery occurred just after 3:00 a.m. at the Óptica Óptima store at Torremarina shopping mall in Torrevieja. Although the thieves appeared to face difficulties as a result of the optician chain’s security measures put in place to combat the robberies it has suffered in recent years, the criminals ripped off the lower part of the security shutter and then broke a window with a sledgehammer or other blunt object to gain entry.
Alarm activated
The shop’s alarm went off, but two burglars had more than enough time to empty the display cases of glasses, and after taking around 250 glasses, they left.
In addition to donning hoods to obscure their faces in video security footage, the burglars also wore gloves to make fingerprint identification difficult.
The Guardia Civil is investigating who committed three recent robberies at Óptica Óptima businesses. According to company insiders, the Guardia Civil has enhanced surveillance of the chain’s optician stores in response to the recent robberies.
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In addition to the nocturnal heist at the La Marina institution last Tuesday, another theft occurred on Friday while the business was open. Two couples posed as customers and left after being discovered stealing glasses, despite attempts by personnel to stop them. However, a witness revealed the number plate number of the robbers’ vehicle, and the Guardia Civil apprehended them. They were staying at a campsite in Guardamar and appeared at Elche court on Sunday.
Author: Derek Appleton
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