MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (January 30, 2025) — Three Florida men were arrested in connection with a multi-state organized retail theft ring involving the theft of over $1 million worth of eyewear. The suspects, identified as Alexander Trujillo Gomez, 48, Xavier Perez, 52, and Lazaro Salazar Hechavarria, 28, all from Miami, are accused of burglarizing Sunglass Hut stores across multiple states, including Tennessee and South Carolina.
The trio was arrested on charges of burglary, theft of property valued over $250,000, and vandalism. The Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) worked closely with several law enforcement agencies, including the Smyrna Police Department (SPD), Henderson Police Department (HPD), and Goodlettsville Police Department, as well as utilizing Crime Data Analysis Unit (CAD) tools and license plate reader (LPR) technology to track the suspects’ movements.
The suspects allegedly stole more than $284,000 worth of eyewear and nearly $2,000 in cash from a Sunglass Hut on Medical Center Parkway on January 26. They are also suspected in similar crimes at Sunglass Hut locations in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and in Gaffney and Beaufort, South Carolina.
MPD’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) played a pivotal role in the investigation, identifying a rented 2022 Pacifica minivan used in the heists. The minivan was tracked to Goodlettsville, Tennessee, where the suspects tried to ship stolen sunglasses to Florida. After a brief standoff at a UPS store, the suspects were arrested, and the minivan was seized by authorities.
“These arrests highlight the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and modern technology in tackling organized crime,” said Detective Aaron Gonzalez from the MPD Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
Additional charges may be added in connection with the thefts in Hendersonville and South Carolina. Salazar-Hechavarria, Trujillo-Gomez, and Perez are currently being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on $1 million bonds. A court hearing is scheduled for February 13.