Two men from Glendale, California, have been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of firearm parts and accessories valued at approximately $500,000, authorities said. Investigators recovered the shipment and returned the items to their owner.
Arman Mnatsakanyan, 26, and Ashot Yesayan, 23, were arrested after detectives traced a shipment of Sig Sauer products that was allegedly picked up under false pretenses from a warehouse in Torrance on October 12.
Both men were booked on suspicion of grand theft of cargo, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the criminal justice system.
The investigation was handled by the department’s Organized Retail Crimes Task Force, which works to identify suspects involved in organized theft operations and recover stolen merchandise.
How Investigators Traced the Missing Shipment
Authorities said the firearm products were taken from a Torrance warehouse during an allegedly fictitious pickup. This type of cargo theft can involve a shipment being collected through misleading information or an unauthorized transaction, making it difficult for businesses to identify immediately who is responsible.
Detectives followed leads connected to the missing shipment and eventually linked the investigation to Mnatsakanyan and Yesayan, according to deputies.
The department said all the stolen firearm parts and accessories were recovered and returned to the rightful owner. Authorities did not publicly detail the specific products involved or explain how investigators located every item.
The recovery brought the reported value of the recovered merchandise to approximately half a million dollars, preventing the loss from remaining with the affected business.
Why Cargo Theft Is a Major Concern
Cargo theft can affect businesses well beyond the immediate value of stolen goods. Companies may face shipping delays, additional security expenses, insurance claims and disruptions to customers who depend on timely deliveries.
High-value shipments can be particularly attractive to organized theft operations because individual products may be relatively easy to transport and resell. Investigations can become more complicated when stolen goods move between locations or pass through multiple people before being recovered.
In this case, the shipment consisted of firearm products and accessories. Recovering the merchandise was therefore significant both financially and from an inventory-control perspective.
Authorities have not publicly established whether the alleged theft was connected to a wider criminal operation or whether additional suspects are being investigated.
Sheriff’s Department Highlights Investigation
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Chief Jose Mendoza praised the investigators involved in the case, crediting the Major Crimes Bureau with helping recover the stolen products.
He said the investigation demonstrated the importance of coordinated police work in addressing theft involving high-value merchandise.
The department’s Organized Retail Crimes Task Force was established in September 2023 to combat organized retail theft. It operates through the Major Crimes Bureau and works alongside other law enforcement units, local agencies and federal partners on cases involving stolen cargo and merchandise.
Such cooperation can help investigators connect information across jurisdictions, particularly when shipments are collected in one location and suspects or recovered goods are found elsewhere.
Authorities Ask Public for Information
The sheriff’s department is asking anyone with information about cargo theft to contact its Major Crimes Bureau through the department’s P3 Tips portal or by calling 562-946-7270.
People who want to remain anonymous can contact LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
The arrests mark a significant recovery for the owner of the shipment, but the criminal case remains ongoing. The allegations against Mnatsakanyan and Yesayan will need to be addressed through the legal process, and an arrest does not establish guilt.
