By Jim Clark

Police responded to a reported shoplifting incident at Pearl Vision in Somerville’s Twin City Plaza last week. Store personnel reportedly told investigating officers that a man and a woman had been browsing in the store and walked off with an expensive pair of Prada sunglasses.

As police searched the mall for signs of the couple, a Pearl Vision employee steered officers to the nearby EbLens store, where the two suspects were reportedly spotted, police said.

Police found and confronted the pair, who emphatically denied stealing anything. After the male suspect, Matthew Melluso, 25, of Cambridge, consented to a search, police reportedly found a pair of Prada sunglasses on his person, which Melluso claimed were his own.

Police questioned the woman, Michele Vera, 36, also of Cambridge, and she eventually admitted that they had stolen the glasses from Pearl Vision, according to reports. When Melluso learned of Vera’s admission he reportedly told police, “Please officers, don’t arrest us. I’m just trying to buy some sneakers for my kid.  I’ll pay for any stolen items.”

When asked by police to produce the glasses, the two reportedly searched through several bags that they were carrying and police spotted a number of items that Vera said the two had stolen from the nearby Dollar Tree store, police said.

Melluso eventually approached Vera and pulled a pair of glasses from out of the hood of her sweatshirt, according to reports.

Both suspects were placed under arrest and charged with larceny over $250.