Man arrested in suspected fish thefts at Burbank-Glendale pet shops

A man suspected of stealing fish from pet shops in Glendale and Burbank dating back to last year was arrested this week at his North Hollywood apartment, police said.

Luis Argueta, 29, was taken into custody Tuesday after officers carried out a search warrant at his home in the 7600 block of North Hollywood Way, said Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz.

An employee at Tropical Imports at 1134 E. Colorado St. said Argueta entered the store and stole two pieces of live coral, one valued at $40 and the other at $100, Lorenz said. Authorities added that video surveillance footage showed Argueta leaving the store without paying for the coral.

The employee reported that Argueta also stole a blue tang — a tropical fish valued at $100 — back in March, the Glendale News-Press reported.

Glendale detectives later discovered that Argueta was identified as a suspect in a similar type of burglary at Scales ‘n’ Tails at 1701 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, Lorenz said.

A store employee there told authorities that about a month ago, the suspect came into the store and was seen standing suspiciously near one of the fish tanks, Lorenz said.

As Argueta quickly fled the store, the employee noticed a blue tang, also valued at $100, was missing and the employee was able to get the suspect’s license plate number, Lorenz said.

The employee also told detectives that Argueta also stole a $100 platinum clown fish and $40 Percula fish from the business last October.

The marine animals were not recovered.

Mikailian writes for Times Community News.