Latest news with #VazgenAvagyan
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
5 arrested after nearly 300 stolen bikes recovered
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has recovered the majority of the hundreds of bicycles stolen en route to Los Angeles County, and five people have been arrested for being the alleged masterminds behind the heist. Sheriff's officials on Thursday identified the following people as organizers of the theft: Samvel Karapetyan, 38 Vazgen Avagyan, 36 Narek Badalyan, 32 Vladimir Gyulankaryan, 32 Davit Grigoryan, 40 While investigators are still looking into whether any of these five were personally involved in the thefts, the department said they oversaw the plan to steal 337 bicycles from Utah-based ARI Bikes on April 21, a theft of merchandise valued at $1.7 million. 'These individuals are suspected of orchestrating theft operations by redirecting truck drivers and using box trucks and passenger vehicles to transport large quantities of stolen cargo,' the LASD said in a news release. Of those 337 bikes, 288 of them were recovered during the recent service of two search warrants at multiple locations connected to three separate investigations. Jail records indicate the five were all arrested on May 7 in the City of Industry, and each has since been freed on $100,000 bond. Capt. Calvin Mah of the Major Crimes Bureau said their Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team is 'dedicated to combatting retail and cargo theft.' 'We are specifically trained to investigate all major theft groups as their criminal activities adversely affect the community,' Mah said. 'When these theft incidents occur, our detectives will work with all community members who are willing to provide information which can lead to an arrest. I am proud of our detectives' efforts in bringing these suspects into custody. I am also encouraging all community members to notify us when they have information related to retail or cargo theft.' To anonymously report information on cargo thefts or other crimes, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hundreds of bikes disappeared while in transit to L.A. County. Detectives say they cracked the case
Five men pulled off the theft of hundreds of bicycles, snatching them in a carefully orchestrated scheme while the bikes were in transit to L.A. County from a distributor, according to L.A. County sheriff's investigators. Truck drivers were redirected, and box trucks and passenger vehicles were used to transport stolen cargo to waiting warehouses, according to detectives with the sheriff's Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team. The bicycles were recovered and tied to a separate investigation that began April 21 when ARI Bikes of Utah reported to the sheriff's Compton Station the theft of 337 bicycles valued at about $1.7 million. Working with the bike community and ARI, detectives identified multiple suspects and warehouse locations suspected of housing stolen goods. Two multilocation search warrants were served. Detectives found 288 stolen bicycles along with other stolen merchandise. The five suspects were taken into custody, and investigators are continuing to examine "their direct involvement in the ARI Bikes theft," sheriff's officials said. Those taken into custody were identified as Samvel Karapetyan, 38; Vazgen Avagyan 36; Narek Badalyan, 32; Vladimir Gyulankaryan, 32; and Davit Grigoryan, 40. Detectives say they have observed growing sophistication in criminals diverting and intercepting valuable goods being trucked into and out of Southern California in recent years. "The thieves have moved beyond breaking into trailers and are getting into the electronic delivery system," sheriff's Capt. Calvin Mah told The Times. Computers, high-end medications and other expensive products have become the key targets of cargo thefts, which can net millions of dollars. Last month, Los Angeles police recovered nearly $4 million in stolen cargo in a case involving a South American crime ring that looted coffee, tequila, shoes, body wash, pet food and bitcoin-mining computers from tractor trailers and other locations. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Hundreds of bikes disappeared while in transit to L.A. County. Detectives say they cracked the case
Five men pulled off the theft of hundreds of bicycles, snatching them in a carefully orchestrated scheme while the bikes were in transit to L.A. County from a distributor, according to L.A. County sheriff's investigators. Truck drivers were redirected, and box trucks and passenger vehicles were used to transport stolen cargo to waiting warehouses, according to detectives with the sheriff's Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team. The bicycles were recovered and tied to a separate investigation that began April 21 when ARI Bikes of Utah reported to the sheriff's Compton Station the theft of 337 bicycles valued at about $1.7 million. Working with the bike community and ARI, detectives identified multiple suspects and warehouse locations suspected of housing stolen goods. Two multilocation search warrants were served. Detectives found 288 stolen bicycles along with other stolen merchandise. The five suspects were taken into custody, and investigators are continuing to examine 'their direct involvement in the ARI Bikes theft,' sheriff's officials said. Those taken into custody were identified as Samvel Karapetyan, 38; Vazgen Avagyan 36; Narek Badalyan, 32; Vladimir Gyulankaryan, 32; and Davit Grigoryan, 40. Detectives say they have observed growing sophistication in criminals diverting and intercepting valuable goods being trucked into and out of Southern California in recent years. 'The thieves have moved beyond breaking into trailers and are getting into the electronic delivery system,' sheriff's Capt. Calvin Mah told The Times. Computers, high-end medications and other expensive products have become the key targets of cargo thefts, which can net millions of dollars. Last month, Los Angeles police recovered nearly $4 million in stolen cargo in a case involving a South American crime ring that looted coffee, tequila, shoes, body wash, pet food and bitcoin-mining computers from tractor trailers and other locations.
