Thieves target multiple locations of Houston-area eyewear store

HOUSTON — For the third time in less than a week, thieves have targeted Houston-based Eye Elegance.

KHOU 11 News spoke with owner Nicholas Protz on Friday after not one, but two of his stores were burglarized this week. On Saturday, Protz’s store in the Galleria neighborhood was hit again, forcing him to put up another broken window.

“You just have to do what you have to do to get everything cleaned up and closed so you can get down to business and continue to serve these good customers that we have,” Protz said.

The most recent burglary occurred Saturday morning shortly before 6:30 a.m.

“Another day, another burglary,” Protz said.

Surveillance video shows the first incident happened Wednesday morning around 4:45 a.m. In the video, two people are seen breaking the window and entering the store on Post Oak Boulevard.

Protz said the thieves got away with Cartier cases, but no glasses inside.

On Thursday, Eye Elegance was robbed again.

This time it was in Montrose and it happened around 2:30 in the morning. That break-in was also caught on camera and Protz said they left with nothing.

But that wasn’t the case Saturday morning.

“I’m still in the process of doing all the inventory, but I think they’ve probably gotten away with 90% of my Cartier inventory, plus a lot of some of the other brands we carry as well.” , Protz said. “It could be well into the six figures.”

Surveillance video captured the break-in again and this time there were three people instead of two.

“Broke another window and another huge mess and this time they finally got what they were waiting for the last three nights,” Protz said.

Protz said the thieves seemed better prepared this time.

“Everything was locked in our safe. but this time they came with extra tools and forced open three locked doors to get everything,” Protz said.

Protz has a feeling it’s the same people who break in every time.

“They This time we definitely had levers to open the doors,” Protz said. “They went for the one area they hadn’t checked last time.”

Although it’s frustrating to have to deal with this situation again, Protz is trying to stay positive and move forward as best he can.

“Just make it harder for them next time, try to minimize any losses in the future. just with anything. It’s a learning experience every time it happens,” he said.

Protz told KHOU 11 News that after the first story aired, several Houston business owners contacted him to say they too were facing the same problem.

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