LAPD Arrest 'Shade Snatchers' For $2.68M Designer Eyewear Burglaries Across Southern California

A sophisticated burglary crew known as "The Shade Snatchers" has been arrested in connection with over $2.68 million in stolen designer eyewear, handbags, and other merchandise from at least 20 smash-and-grab incidents across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. The suspects, including three adults and three juveniles, used stolen older SUVs or pickup trucks to ram through storefronts during early morning hours, quickly grabbing items using laundry baskets or storage bins before fleeing in coordinated convoys. The stolen vehicles were often taken from South Los Angeles neighborhoods just hours before the burglaries, and the crew targeted high-end boutiques in cities such as Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Pasadena, Venice, and La Jolla. The investigation, led by the LAPD with cooperation from multiple local police departments, utilized surveillance footage and forensic evidence to link suspects and vehicles to the crimes. Authorities have charged the suspects with 26 counts of burglary and grand theft, with additional firearm-related charges filed against some. Police continue to seek information from the public to further the investigation.