Óptica Óptima has suffered a third robbery in less than a week after thieves targeted one of its two stores in Torrevieja. The break-in happened shortly after three o’clock on Monday morning at the branch in the Torremarina shopping centre.

According to sources close to the investigation, two men forced the lower part of a security shutter and then smashed a window using a heavy object to gain entry. Although the alarm was activated, the thieves had enough time to empty display cabinets and escape within about two minutes.

The haul has not yet been fully assessed, but the company believes between 250 and 300 pairs of glasses were stolen. Many were high-end designer brands, with some individual items valued at up to one thousand euros, putting the total loss at several tens of thousands of euros.

The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation into this and two earlier robberies at Óptica Óptima stores in La Marina and Los Alcázares. The force says patrols around the chain’s opticians have been increased following the recent spate of incidents.