Teen Arrested in Flash Mob That Hit LensCrafters in Manhattan, Brooklyn

Robbery Crew Made Off with Nearly $8K in Glasses

The NYPD has arrested a teen in connection with a series of robberies of LensCrafters in NYC. -Photo by NYPD

By Dan Gesslein 

Manhattan Voice 

March 8, 2024 

MANHATTAN - Cops have arrested a teen in connection with a flash mob that has robbed a number of LensCrafters stores walking off with nearly $8,000 in eyeglasses.  

The NYPD said a 15-year-old male was arrested and charged with grand larceny. Cops said the teen was arrested in regards to the first robbery of a LensCrafters in the Financial District. 

The suspect’s name was not released given the fact that he is a minor.

The NYPD had released photos of the suspected members of the robbery crew this week on social media. Tips led to the teen’s arrest.  

Cops have now linked a third LensCrafters robbery with the same crew. Cops said the crew made off with nearly $2,000 worth of merchandise from the LensCrafters in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

The first robbery took place in the Financial District. At around 4:45 pm on March 1, a group of seven males entered the LensCrafters at 60 Broad Street. Members of the group scooped up glasses and walked out without paying. Cops said the glasses are valued at $1,200. 

The second robbery took place on the Upper West Side, almost in Harlem. At around 5:15 pm on March 4, four males walked into the LensCrafters at 2770 Broadway. Again the crew pulled scores of glasses off the displays and ran out of the store. 

Cops said the eyeglasses are valued at $4,100. 

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips. 

All calls are strictly confidential.