Pair accused of stealing sunglasses from Saugus store

SAUGUS – A pair of would-be robbers were held without bail Friday after police reports say they stole a pair of sunglasses from the Sunglass Hut in the Square One Mall in Saugus.Robert M. Farrell, 41, of 163 Riverside Ave., Medford and Richard S. Almeida, 24, of 25 Baldwin Ave., #3, Everett, were both arrested and charged with larceny over $250 and assault with a dangerous weapon on Thursday at 3:03 p.m.Lynn District Court Judge James Lamothe held both men without bail at their arraignment Friday due to previous larceny charges.According to police reports from Lynn District Court, an employee at the Sunglass Hut told police that while working in the store, Farrell and Almeida walked in and noted Farrell, who was wearing a pair of sunglasses, proceeded to try on a pair of Prada sunglasses valued at $320.The employee stated that Almeida then started talking with her and felt he was trying to “distract her,” said the report. The employee told police that Almeida tried on a pair of Oakley sunglasses valued at $140. The employee told police that Farrell told Almeida, “All set. Let’s go.” and the pair quickly left the store.The employee then noticed that the Prada sunglasses were replaced by Farrell’s sunglasses in the display case, said the report. She then approached Farrell and asked for the sunglasses back and told police Farrell said he did not have them before pulling out a knife and making a “thrusting motion” toward her.The employee stated that Farrell threw the knife away while fleeing and told police that when she went back into the store to call 911, she noticed the Oakley sunglasses were also missing.Saugus Police officer Thomas Jones, who is assigned to the Square One Mall, arrested the two men after he pulled them over on Route 1 next to the miniature golf course. He wrote in his report that the glasses were not recovered and are “believed to have been thrown away while fleeing.”According to court records, Almeida was charged with larceny over $250 out of Malden District Court from January, while Farrell was charged with larceny over $250 last year out of Haverhill District Court.Both men are due back in court on July 19.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].