Man reunited with his bike via Craigslist

GLENDALE — Two men were arrested Sunday on suspicion of stealing a motorcycle after its owner spotted it for sale on Craigslist, police said.

The motorcycle’s owner had reported it stolen on July 29 from the 200 block of West Lomita Avenue, but recently spotted it while browsing online, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

“He was probably looking for another motorcycle to replace his,” he said.

The owner, whom police did not identify, noticed that someone was trying to sell his stolen motorcycle, so he responded to the ad and spotted some damage from a past wreck on the bike that indicated it belonged to him, Lorenz said.

He contacted police, who called the suspects, Jack Hoogasian, 32, and Garabed Koussayan, 24, who offered to sell and deliver the motorcycle, Lorenz said.

They delivered the motorcycle Sunday evening to Broadway and Pacific Avenue, and police determined it was stolen, he said.

The pair was immediately arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and receiving stolen property, Lorenz said.

While it appeared that the men tried to remove and paint over parts of the motorcycle to mask it, police used the vehicle identification numbers to prove it was stolen, Lorenz said.

On Saturday, police also arrested two men at the Mobil gas station on Clifton and Verdugo Boulevard on suspicion of stealing a truck, according to police reports.

Police spotted James Baca, 27, and Susano Tec, 23, just after midnight standing at the rear of the truck, which had no license plates, according to reports.

Police searched the truck and found a bag of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a Taser and several tools, including screwdrivers, bolt cutters and gloves that are commonly used to break into vehicles, according to the police report.