Sunglasses worth an estimated $15,000 were stolen from a Vernon business in the Village Green Shopping Centre on Thursday evening.
Clara Mainville, manager of Iris Optometrists and Opticians, posted on Facebook Friday morning that the theft took place at 7:30 p.m. March 25.
The store is located in the Vernon shopping mall with no storefront facing the exterior. The mall closes at 7 p.m. Thursdays. It is unclear how the thief got access into the store after-hours, though malls tend to keep the exit doors open past closing time to allow patrons to complete their shopping.
A display case near the store entrance had been broken into and cleaned out.
Stolen were 44 pairs of Maui Jim sunglasses, which retail anywhere from $200 to $900. The culprit was wearing a face mask and couldn’t be identified on security video footage.
Mainville said the footage also captured bystanders nearby while the robbery was taking place.
“And I may add, while he was tearing apart my display case, shoppers were walking by as if nothing was unusual.”
Mainville urged residents to watch online buy-and-sell groups for the products.
Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are investigating and anyone with information is urged to contact the detachment at 250-545-7171.
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