Three residents of Miami, all originally from Cuba, have been apprehended in Tennessee for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated theft operation that targeted luxury eyewear worth over a million dollars across several states, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department.
Alexander Trujillo Gómez, 48, Xavier Pérez, 52, and Lázaro Salazar Hechavarría, 28, all residing in Miami, are facing a slew of charges, including two counts of burglary, theft of property valued at $250,000 or more, and vandalism exceeding $1,000. These charges were detailed in a statement from the Murfreesboro Police Department.
The trio is implicated in a series of thefts from Sunglass Hut outlets in multiple states. On Sunday, January 26, they allegedly stole goods exceeding $284,329 and nearly $2,000 in cash from the Sunglass Hut located on Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro.
Authorities suspect the three men of executing similar thefts in other Sunglass Hut locations, including those in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and in Gaffney and Beaufort, South Carolina.
The arrests were made possible through collaborative efforts involving the Murfreesboro Police Department's Criminal Analysis Unit (CAD), license plate readers (LPR), and police departments from Smyrna, Henderson, and Goodlettsville in Tennessee.
The Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) of the Memphis Police played a crucial role in tracking the suspects' activities. Investigators identified a 2022 Pacifica minivan, rented from Miami, as the vehicle used in the thefts. This van was spotted in Goodlettsville on Wednesday, January 29.
Despite being under police surveillance, the suspects attempted to ship three boxes of stolen sunglasses back to Miami but were denied service when they refused to open the packages for inspection. They eventually succeeded in sending the stolen items to Florida from a UPS facility.
An LPR alert later pinpointed the vehicle on Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna, where officers managed to arrest the trio at the warehouse, seize the stolen shipment, and confiscate the minivan.
Currently, Salazar Hechavarría, Trujillo Gómez, and Pérez are held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, each with a bond set at $1 million. A court hearing regarding the charges is scheduled for February 13 in the General Sessions Court.
Details on the Sunglass Hut Robbery Case
What charges are the suspects facing?
The suspects, Alexander Trujillo Gómez, Xavier Pérez, and Lázaro Salazar Hechavarría, face charges including burglary, theft of property valued at $250,000 or more, and vandalism over $1,000.
How were the suspects tracked down?
The suspects were tracked down through a coordinated effort involving the Murfreesboro Police Department's CAD unit, LPRs, and assistance from police departments across Tennessee. The Real-Time Crime Center in Memphis also played a significant role.
When is the court hearing scheduled?
The court hearing for the suspects is scheduled for February 13 in the General Sessions Court.