Nature of Incident: Investigation and Arrest of Organized Retail Theft Duo
Report Number: 21-153596 and 21-163933
Location: 800 block of Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark and 2900 block of Tapo Canyon Rd., Simi Valley
Date & Time: November 16th, 2021, and December 7th, 2021
Unit(s) Responsible:
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office – Moorpark Patrol Station
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office – Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit
(S)uspects City of Residence Age
Vardan Gevorgyan North Hollywood 30
Raphael Gevorgyan Van Nuys 37
Narrative:
On January 7th, 2022, detectives with the Moorpark Investigations Bureau and the Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit concluded an in-depth investigation with the arrests of two suspects involved in Organized Retail Theft. The two suspects, who are brothers, were engaged in an ongoing organized retail theft spree throughout Southern California, over the past several months.
This particular case began on the evening of November 16th, 2021, when patrol deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Moorpark Station responded to an area department store for a theft of jewelry that just occurred. Deputies determined that a lone suspect disabled a security cable that was affixed to a large jewelry display case and carried the entire display case out of the store and into an awaiting vehicle that was parked directly in front of the exit doors. Store management estimated the theft of jewelry in the display case to be in excess of $21,500.00.
The case was then assumed by detectives with the Moorpark Investigations Bureau. As the investigation unfolded, detectives learned the same suspect was responsible for committing similar thefts at seven different locations of the same department store chain throughout Southern California, with a total loss in excess of $124,000.00. Over the next several weeks, detectives identified the suspect using a variety of different investigative methods and techniques, as Vardan Gevorgyan of North Hollywood. Detectives also learned that Vardan conspired with and worked in conjunction with his brother, Raphael Gevorgyan, of Van Nuys in order to commit the thefts.
The investigation culminated on the morning of January 7, 2022, when Moorpark detectives, assisted by detectives with the Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit arrested the two brothers outside of an apartment complex in the Pacoima District of Los Angeles, where one of the brothers had been staying.
The brothers were transported back to Ventura County and booked at the Ventura Main Jail on two counts of Grand Theft for two incidents that occurred within Ventura County. Bail was set at $75,000.00 for each suspect.
Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Kevin Lynch
News Release Date: January 12, 2022
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Sergeant Kevin Lynch (805) 532-2716
Approved by: Captain Victor Fazio
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