KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Early Wednesday, a pair of thieves targeted an ophthalmologist office in the Northland, but several security cameras caught them in the act.
The cameras recorded their every move during the burglary at Vision Source Eyecare, 9596 North McGee Street.
Security footage shows as the first thief scurries around the office before 4 a.m.
He eventually sets his eyes on a display case filled with Oakley sunglasses. The burglar hits another case before leaving with his alleged accomplice.
The pair return a short time later.
"The second guy in the white cap looks very nervous and is not sure what's going on and is definitely taking direction from the first guy," Dr. Ryan Powell, owner of Vision Source Eyecare, said.
The crooks, according to Powell, stole at least 100 frames from the business.
"If you're looking at a swap and shop online and you see that someone has sunglasses for sale for some price, that doesn't make any sense," Powell said. "It's quite possible that those are stolen glasses."
He knows of two other optical centers in the metro burglarized since the stay-at-home order went into effect.
"They’re aware that we’re not here," Powell said. "They're aware that they can get in and out without being detected more easily now than they could at other times."
According KCPD figures, overall property crime has decreased during the pandemic. Last month, there were six less non-residential burglaries.
But for Powell, he is just trying to make ends meet.
"We're just trying to get our employees paid, trying to try to keep up with things," Powell said. "You know, we're all struggling. The situation is rough on all of us. They're making it even rougher."
Anyone with information about this burglary is asked to call KCPD or the KC Crimestoppers hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
