Two individuals apprehended following an audacious crashing of a wedding ceremony, during which a thief was filmed making off with $60,000 from a California-based couple.
Two men, Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan, have been arrested in connection to the theft of a wedding gift box at the Renaissance Banquet Hall in Glendale, California. The theft, which occurred at Nadeen and George Farahat's wedding, was captured on security cameras and later went viral.
According to Sgt. Jose Barajas with the Glendale Police Department, tips from the viral video helped identify the suspects early in the investigation. The thief, whose uncovered face was captured on clear pictures before, during, and after the wedding, was later identified as Shirehjini.
Shirehjini is accused of stealing approximately $60,000 from the couple, including cash, checks, and several firearms and various narcotics. Avetisyan, on the other hand, is accused of being the getaway driver.
In addition to the stolen items, detectives recovered dozens of checks made out to the victims from the wedding at both suspects' residences. Glendale police also recovered 26 checks and approximately $10,000 from a safe at Shirehjini's home.
The police believe the theft may have been a crime of opportunity, as the city's many banquet halls and frequent weddings could have made it an attractive target for the suspects. Neither suspect had a criminal history of similar crimes.
While the stolen items and the arrests have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the newlyweds' happy occasion, Nadeen and George Farahat, who were interviewed by ABC Los Angeles affiliate KABC earlier this week, are focusing on the fun times and important aspects of their wedding.
KABC also asked police if any or all of the guns were purchased legally, and they are looking into it. The police are also looking into the drugs and what appear to be fake IDs that were recovered.
The two men were apprehended in the Halle city area during a large-scale drug raid where numerous illegal items including weapons and over 100 cannabis plants were found. Both men are in their mid-30s, with Shirehjini being 36 years old and Avetisyan being 43 years old.
As the investigation continues, the Glendale community hopes for a swift resolution and the return of the stolen items to their rightful owners, Nadeen and George Farahat.
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