Van Nuys Men Linked to Thefts at Smoke Shops
Two men were arrested Thursday morning after they allegedly used a power saw to cut through the roof of a cigar shop, filled two gunny sacks with expensive tobacco products and hauled them out of the store.
Another burglar got away with the power tools, Los Angeles police said.
Karan Takvoryan, 24, and Oganes Atkozyan, 44--both of Van Nuys--are also suspects in two other recent smoke shop burglaries, police said. On May 30, thieves stole $5,000 worth of cigars from the Cigar Club & Lounge at 19231 Ventura Blvd., and two days later, The Humidor at 22323 Sherman Way was burglarized.
In both cases, thieves used power tools to cut through walls or ceilings.
About 2:30 a.m. Thursday, a guest at a nearby hotel called 911 after seeing flashlights and hearing glass breaking and a power tool in Lou’s Tobacco Row Ltd. at 19319 Ventura Blvd., according to LAPD Lt. George Rock.
When police arrived, they found Takvoryan and Atkozyan on the roof of the establishment and two large gunny sacks filled with thousands of dollars worth of tobacco products, Rock said.
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