NATICK, Mass. -- Designer sunglasses were stolen Sunday from the Sunglass Hut in the Natick Mall.

NewsCenter 5's Shiba Russell reported that police said a man walked into the store and started removing about 12 sunglasses from a display case. When the clerk walked up to the robber, the man pulled out a can of pepper spray and told the clerk not to follow him.

Officials said that he fled the store with more than $5,000 worth of high-end sunglasses.

"These glasses are visible, they are accessible and they are on display. Celebrities wear these. They give them a great deal of exposure, and people want them," Natick Police Department spokesman Nicholas Mabardy said.

Police said that they believe a gang of robbers, based in Boston, are responsible for the robbery. Sunglass Hut chains in Boston and Braintree have also been targeted.