The owner of a San Fernando Valley recycling company has been arrested for allegedly receiving stolen property in connection with the theft of thousands of pounds of metal from local municipalities -- including street lighting wire and a bronze plaque, authorities said Wednesday.
Bedros Zhamkochian, the owner of Tuxford Recycling, was arrested as part of a "compliance check" operation Friday targeting recycling centers and metal yards that was conducted by personnel from the Los Angeles Police Department's Commercial Crime Division's Metal Theft Unit, police said.
Zhamkochian, 56, was booked on suspicion of felony receiving stolen property, and was released on his own recognizance, according to the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
During the investigation, the following property allegedly was recovered:
-- 290 pounds of street lighting wire stolen from the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting, with an estimated value of $2,000;
-- 290 pounds of street lighting wire stolen from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, with an estimated value of $10,000;
-- a 256-pound bronze plaque stolen from the city of Burbank, with an estimated value of $10,000; and
-- 3,366 pounds of copper and aluminum wire stolen from Caltrans, estimated to be worth $24,000.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
"Due to the amount of copper and aluminum wire recovered and the recovery of a bronze city of Burbank plaque, the owner of Tuxford Recycling, Bedros `Peter' Zhamkochian, was arrested for ... receiving stolen property," an LAPD statement said.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Commercial Crimes Division at 213-486-5920, or 877-LAPD-247. Tipsters may also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
