MURFREESBORO, TN - Apparently, the sunshine in Murfreesboro has become too much to bear—so much so that two females took matters into their own hands, literally. Detectives with the Murfreesboro Police Department are seeking the public's help to identify two individuals accused of making off with several pairs of sunglasses from the Sunglass Hut on Medical Center Parkway. The theft occurred on Thursday, May 16, and it seems our town's latest criminal masterminds have a taste for designer lenses.
Caught on surveillance video, the unidentified women were seen brazenly grabbing multiple pairs of sunglasses. Clearly mistaking their pockets for shopping bags, they tucked the expensive shades away and made a hasty exit. In what can only be described as a well-rehearsed getaway, the duo fled the store and headed straight for the parking lot of The Avenue, hopping into a black Ford Edge SUV. Unfortunately, the license plate number remains a mystery.
If you have any information that might help police nab these fashion-forward fugitives, Detective Ed Gorham would love to hear from you. You can reach him at 629-201-5507 or via email at 0300@murfreesborotn.gov.
This latest incident is far from an isolated event. The Sunglass Hut has long been a favorite target for thieves in Murfreesboro. Back in 2013, two women made off with over $1,000 worth of designer sunglasses in a heist that was deemed a felony (due to the value of the theft). Not to be outdone, another pair of discerning criminals swiped $700 worth of Gucci and Persol shades in 2015. However, the grand prize for the biggest theft goes to the 2020 incident, where over $8,000 worth of sunglasses vanished into thin air... That was MPD Public Information Officer Larry Flowers.
One can only hope that the sun shines a little less brightly on these criminal escapades, and the public's keen eyes will help bring these shade-stealing scofflaws to justice.
Similar thefts targeting designer shades have been reported throughout the country, with one case hitting the courtroom last month in Florida. Ernesha Atmore was sentenced to 30-years in prison after being convicted of a costly heist at a Tampa, Florida Sunglass Hut store.
The 29-year-old was found guilty of stealing $20,000 worth of high dollar sunglasses from the store, which was captured on video. The surveillance footage showed her casually scooping sunglasses into a soft-sided cooler bag and then threatening employees with a Taser when confronted. Authorities arrested Atmore a few days later, discovering a trove of stolen goods in her car.
Despite being offered a three-year plea deal, she opted for trial, which led to a much harsher sentence under Florida’s crackdown on retail theft. Consequently, Atmore won’t be released from prison until she’s nearly 60 years old.
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