Robert Warburton was a connoisseur of fine eyewear, stealing only the most expensive sunglasses, according to Denver Police Sgt. Kevin Carroll.
But Warburton, 58, slipped up when when he raided a Sunglass Hut wearing a tag bearing his name in letters large enough to be seen without a magnifying glass. “An employee saw the name tag,” said Carroll.
Warburton, who couldn’t be reached for comment, allegedly stole glasses from shops in Cherry Creek, Denver Pavilions and Park Meadow malls. Just five pair of the sunglasses were worth $1,500, said Police District 3 Cmndr. Kris Kroncke. Warburton then sold the glasses to a pawnshop in Westminster.
A detective who investigated the case found that Warburton was recognized in shops throughout the area that sell high-end sunglasses. “He would just go in there and probably take a couple of pair at a time, all of them $300, $400 a piece,” Carroll said.
Warburton was arrested on April 28 and charged with theft of over $1,000.
Tom McGhee: (303)954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
