A THIEF made off from Vision Express with £500 worth of designer glasses.

Officers from the Essex Police town centre team were out on patrol on Tuesday afternoon when they stopped a man who had been acting suspiciously inside the Basildon town centre optician.

After resisting a stop and search, officers and security staff then restrained the man.

Police say the man was searched and was found to have £500 worth of stolen designer glasses.

A man has since been arrested and released under investigation.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We have arrested a man on suspicion of theft following reports that two pairs of designer sunglasses had been taken from Vision Express in Basildon town centre.

“The 25-year-old from Kentish Town, London, was arrested by Town Centre Team officers outside HSBC Bank at around 1.30pm on Tuesday.

“He has since been released under investigation.”

A Vision Express spokesperson said: “We can confirm that an incident took place at our Basildon store [on Tuesday] and we are working with the police throughout their investigation.”

Pat Rackley, Basildon resident and former Labour councillor, said: “I’m speechless this is happening, that’s hundreds of pounds worth which the company would’ve lost.

“It’s a good job police where there when they were.

“Shops are closing all the time as it is without businesses being targeted, it’s terrible.”

She added: “It’s truly shocking that anyone would do such a thing, I’ve never heard of anything like it.

“At the end of the day, you can only wear one pair at a time anyway.”

Kerry Smith, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said: “That could’ve been one of the staff members wages. When businesses are targeted it affects everyone, not just the owners.

“This backs up our point that we need extra police out on patrol. If officers are around, more arrests will be made.”