PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Three robberies in less than a week have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and stolen property at three separate optics shops \u2014 Central Eyeworks, Van Buren Optical and The Village Eye Works.<\/p>\n
All three stores are within about a mile of each other, and surveillance cameras captured the same ruse at each location. Now, business owners are sounding the alarm, worried the thief will strike again and asking for the public\u2019s help to find the person responsible.<\/p>\n
Village Eye Works has been a family-run business for decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in business since 1985 \u2014 for 40 years,\u201d said owner Bob Royden.<\/p>\n
Bob and his daughter, Steph Royden, said decades of hard work were shattered in seconds.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery quick. He just goes through the whole store,\u201d said Steph Royden.<\/p>\n
Early Wednesday morning, their store was hit. Surveillance video showed the burglar entering with a pillowcase in hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intruder came in through the door here. He threw a rock through the door \u2014 a big, big rock out here,\u201d said Bob Royden. \u201cJust started walking through the whole store and just grabbing any sunglass frame he could find.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each frame of the video carries a price tag.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamages are probably close to like 80 grand,\u201d said Steph Royden.<\/p>\n
Just a mile away, another store \u2014 Central Eyeworks \u2014 suffered the same fate.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just starts grabbing into a sack,\u201d said owner Tommy Libert. \u201cThe guy pulled up on a bike, grabbed a boulder out of the flower bed and just threw it through the window. Pillowcase, and just started.\u201d<\/p>\n
A day later, a third business, Van Buren Optical, also reported a break-in, with hundreds of dollars in inventory stolen.<\/p>\n
All three businesses are working with Phoenix police to find the suspect.<\/p>\n
Police said they are asking for the public\u2019s help. If you were in the area or have security video, you are urged to contact Phoenix police.<\/p>\n
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