SAN DIEGO—Two men who took part in a string of thefts at upscale stores across San Diego County, leading to more than $200,000 in merchandise stolen across a three-month span, were each sentenced Thursday to three years and eight months in state prison.

Ernesto Louis Cruz and Jordan Guzman Lopez, both 27, targeted nine Sunglass Hut locations—some of which were robbed multiple times—and three high-end stores last year, according to Deputy District Attorney Steven Nguyen.

The prosecutor said the men threatened employees during the “smash-and-grab” style hold-ups and motioned to the victims as though they were armed in order to gain compliance. According to Nguyen, the defendants were reselling the stolen merchandise online.

Both men pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbery and grand theft counts.