A pair of suspects who allegedly tried to make off with 11 pairs of sunglasses valued at $5,495 from Optx on Hartford Avenue is now looking at felony charges.

According to police reports, on March 25 around 12:30 p.m., Officers Kevin Brady and Adam Parkinson responded to Optx for a larceny in progress. Dispatch advised the officer that a suspect, described as a short white male in his late 20s wearing a puffy black jacket and black winter hat, was placing glasses in the pockets of his jacket. A woman was also in the store and appeared to distract employees while the man was taking the glasses.

Once at the business, the officers observed the man, later identified as Howard Smith, 36, of 25 Delmont Street in Johnston, looking at the glasses display. Smith noticed the officers enter the store and began to walk away from them. He was then detained and stated, “Okay, okay, you got me. They’re in my sleeve, just don’t break them, I can’t afford them.”

The woman, identified as Toni Cotoia, 58, of 454 George Waterman Road, Apt. D in Johnston, was also detained while the incident was being investigated.

Officer Brady then reached into Smith’s jacket and retrieved several pairs of sunglasses in his pockets and sleeves. Recovered were five pairs of Chanel, three pairs of Celine, and a pair each of Cartier, Blue Love and Ray Ban sunglasses. The glasses were photographed and returned to the store.

Store employees then told officers that the two suspects entered the establishment together, and Cotoia approached the front desk while Smith looked at glasses. Cotoia claimed she wished to schedule an appointment and began a conversation, which employees believed was a blatant attempt to distract them from what Smith was doing.

An employee then took Cotoia’s license and walked into the Optical room, where surveillance televisions are located. While Cotoia became nervous and asked the employee to hurry up, Smith was observed taking and concealing more glasses.

“It was a coordinated effort between the management and staff in order to call us right away. That’s the important thing, these people that work there, they’re trained to monitor the video surveillance. It’s a sophisticated video surveillance system,” said Major Joseph Razza of the Johnston Police Department. “They’re not going to tolerate anything like that, and we hope the suspects get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The owner of Optx responded to the business and advised that he wished to pursue a criminal complaint against both suspects. A copy of the store’s video surveillance was obtained for evidence.

Smith and Cotoia, who both have extensive records with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, were transported to police headquarters, where they were processed and held for arraignment.

Cotoia was arraigned by Justice of the Peace O’Brien for felony larceny over $1,500 and felony conspiracy. She was released on $1,000 personal recognizance and given a Sixth District Court date of June 27.

Smith was also arraigned by JP O’Brien with surety bail set at $1,000 for charges of felony larceny and felony conspiracy. He was given a Sixth District Court date of March 27 was then remanded to the ACI for violating his probation.

“We try to do our best,” said Major Razza. “We’re a full service department, and we try to pay as much attention as possible to everything that goes on in Johnston. Our men and women really do a good job.”