Wedding crashers arrested after stealing $60K in cash from California reception

GLENDALE, Calif. (KTLA) — Police announced Saturday they’ve arrested two men suspected of working together to crash a Glendale, California, wedding and steal expensive gifts from the reception.

The grand theft suspects, identified by the Glendale Police Department as Los Angeles residents Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan, allegedly stole $60,000 in cash and a gift box filled with dozens of checks.

Police said it happened last week at the Renaissance Banquet Hall. Details on the theft are limited, but officials said Shirehjini — who is unknown to the victims — ran out of the venue with the gifts and jumped into a getaway car with Avetisyan behind the wheel. They both fled in a black SUV.

Glendale Police Burglary Detectives spent the following week using video surveillance and other resources to identify the suspects, leading to their arrests at Shirehjini’s Sherman Oaks home on Friday.

Shirehjini, the primary suspect, had a handgun at the time of his arrest, police discovered. Officials did not say whether he attempted to use it, but no shots were reported.

Detectives executed search warrants at both suspects’ homes and found the hefty amount of cash and checks made out to the victims from the wedding. In addition, detectives found several firearms and various narcotics in both residences.

“Detectives are still processing a significant amount of evidence and will continue their work through the weekend, as this is an ongoing investigation,” stated the police department.

Anyone with additional information related to this investigation is urged to contact the Glendale Police Burglary Detectives at 818-548-3127.