Designer frames with an approximate retail value of £70,000 were stolen from a Lancashire practice in the early hours of March 27.
About 400 frames were taken in the raid on the Spectacle Factory in Bamber Bridge, with the thieves using crowbars to prise open display cases. Technician John Middleton, father of Amanda Sands the practice owner, spoke of the meticulous planning involved in the break-in: 'They smashed the front door in completely and wrenched the grill off the window.'
He said that the practice had been targeted before when a window was smashed and a few frames were stolen.
'That was more vandalism than anything else. This was a major job,' Middleton added.
The thieves knocked the alarm box off the wall to prevent it alerting Sands or police of the break-in.
Staff believe the practice may have been under surveillance prior to the burglary. Optical assistant Ruth Neilson told the Leyland Guardian: 'What sickens us is that we probably showed the thieves around and gave them a cup of tea when all along they were planning to do this.'
The crime was discovered by Middleton as he came into work later that morning. He said that the practice would increase its security by installing a CCTV system and a new alarm.
Middleton added that anybody with information should contact Leyland police.