Murfreesboro police bust multi-state organized retail theft ring
Three Florida men have been arrested in connection with a multi-state organized retail theft ring, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Crime Data Analysis Unit (CAD), license plate reader (LPR) cameras, Smyrna (TN) Police Department (SPD), Henderson Police Department (HVPD) and Goodlettsville Police Department. The suspects are accused of stealing more than $1 million worth of eye wear from Sunglass Hut locations across multiple states.
MPD arrested Alexander Trujillo Gomez, 48, Xavier Perez, 52, and Lazaro Salazar Hechavarria, 28, all from Miami. The trio faces numerous charges, including two counts of burglary, theft of property valued at $250,000 and over, and vandalism over $1,000.
The trio is accused of burglarizing the Sunglass Hut on Medical Center Parkway on Sunday, Jan. 26. More than $284,329 worth of merchandise and nearly $2,000 cash were stolen.
They are suspected in similar burglaries at Sunglass Huts in Hendersonville, Tennessee as well as in Gaffney and Beaufort, South Carolina.
The crime data analysts with MPD’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) played a significant role in tracking the suspects’ movements. They identified a 2022 Pacifica minivan, rented in Miami, Florida, as the vehicle used in the heists. The minivan was spotted in Goodlettsville, Tennessee on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The suspects attempted to ship three boxes of stolen sunglasses to Miami. The men were refused service when they wouldn’t open the boxes to show what was inside.
The RTCC continued to monitor the situation, receiving a LPR alert of the minivan on Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna. With the assistance of SPD officers, the three suspects were detained at a UPS store, where they had successfully paid to ship the stolen goods to Florida. MPD officers intercepted the shipment and seized the minivan.
“These arrests underscore the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing in combating organized crime,” said CID Detective Aaron Gonzalez. “This case highlights the importance of using modern technology like LPR cameras, support from our crime data analysts and other law enforcement agencies.”
Additional charges could be forthcoming in Hendersonville and South Carolina.
The case remains under investigation.
Salazar-Hechavarria, Trujillo-Gomez, and Perez remain in custody at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, each held on a $1 million bond. A hearing on the charges is set Feb. 13 in General Sessions Court.
