Eyeglass Burglar, 11 Others Arrested in Theft Ring

After a months-long undercover operation, Chandler Police have arrested 12 people in connection to 25 burglaries in Chandler, Gilbert, and Scottsdale -- including the arrest of the alleged Eyeglass Burglar.

More News »

The arrests conclude a month-long investigation into a series of burglaries and stolen property trafficking. Eyeglasses, electronics, TVs, laptops, designer clothing, alcohol and cigarettes were stolen, to be resold on the street.

Police recovered around $100,000 in stolen property linked to the 25 burglaries.

Eliseo Mendoza Sandoval, 30, is suspected of orchestrating 20 or more burglaries from valley optometry offices. Police recovered 120 pairs of eyeglasses ranging from $500 to $1,000 a pair.

Sandoval was also linked to the fraud of motor vehicle titles. A 28-year-old woman, Adrianna Sanchez, was arrested for assisting Sandoval in processing the fraudulent titles.

An undercover investigator posed as a black market operator to infiltrate the organized theft ring. They used retail items in the operation, provided by Safeway, Fry's, Gap, Walgreen's, Nationwide Vision, Pearl Vision, Sunglass Hut and others.

"[The undercover officer] noticed one of Eliseo's children wearing a high-dollar pair of prescription glasses," says Chandler Police Detective Mike West. "They began a conversation, started talking about the glasses, and basically it escalated from general conversation to specifics on how many burglaries, the dollar amounts on the frames that were stolen."

Citizen tips also helped provide clues in the investigation.

The other arrests include: Mary Jo Sandoval, 30, Victorio Meneses Jr., 28, Cheryl Lynn Walsch, 43, Sean Gilman, 41, Hector David Valencia, 17, Ivan Nevarez, 24, Damian Nevarez, 18, Elizabeth Jo Gloria, 22, Jason Walsch, 21, and Johnny Escobedo, 18.

The suspects are facing charges ranging from burglary, theft, trafficking in stolen property, passing counterfeit currency, tampering with MVD records, and narcotic-related offenses.