$15K worth of sunglasses stolen in brazen Vernon mall theft

A Vernon optometrist had more than 40 pairs of sunglasses valued at $15,000 stolen following a brazen theft last week.

The 44 pairs of Maui Jim shades were swiped from Iris Optometrists and Opticians located in the Village Green Mall in Vernon after a thief leaned through the security gate and smashed the display case at 7:30 p.m. March 25.

"It was just so brazen," Iris Optometrists manager Clara Mainville told iNFOnews.ca.

While the opticians and the majority of the stores were closed at the time of the theft, the mall was still open and people were around at the time.

Amazingly, Mainville said the store's surveillance camera showed people walking past while the robbery took place.

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP spokesperson Const. Chris Terleski said while he couldn't speak to the specifics of this incident, he reminded the public that if they witness any suspicious activity not intervene and put themselves at risk, but to report it to the police right away.

"So we can react quickly and have a greater chance of catching those responsible," Terleski said in an email.

Mainville said she has posted about the theft in every buy and sell website she can think of in an attempt to find the stolen shades.

Terleski said the RCMP is investigating the theft and anyone with information is urged to call the Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171.

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