Newly Formed Task Force Arrests Retail Theft Suspect 

May 24, 2024 – Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that the newly formed Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force recently concluded an investigation with the arrest of Akop Galadzhyan, a resident of Los Angeles, who is suspected of acting as a member of an organized retail theft crew that focused on multiple retail establishments in Ventura County. Galadzhyan was identified in the theft of over $100,000 dollars in merchandise from Target Stores alone, throughout southern California.   

On May 21^st, task force detectives located Galadzhyan in the city of Thousand Oaks and took him into custody on a felony charge of organized retail theft after walking out of a retail store with over $1,000 in stolen merchandise.

Throughout the investigation, task force detectives were also able to obtain evidence against Galadzhyan in at least a dozen other retail thefts and attempted retail thefts in the cities of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. Task force detectives are still working to locate and arrest additional co-conspirators in this investigation. Galadzhyan was booked into the Sheriff’s Pre-Trial Detention Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail. Galadzhyan is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court for arraignment on May 23, 2024.

The Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force was formed after the Sheriff’s Office was awarded grant funding under the California Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program. This program formalizes a coordinated effort, overseen by the Sheriff’s Office, involving all law enforcement agencies in Ventura County to prevent and combat the estimated $10 million yearly loss from organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft and cargo theft. 

The task force is comprised of detectives from various agencies within Ventura County with the primary mission of combatting organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft and cargo theft which impact our businesses, citizens, and communities here in Ventura County. The task force aims to provide a safe environment for everyone while working hand in hand with retailers, law enforcement agencies and the public to identify, locate and arrest the criminals involved in these types of crimes.

Persons with information regarding organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft or cargo theft are encouraged to call the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force’s recorded line at (805) 383-8703 or by calling the Crime Stoppers Tip Line (800) 222-TIPS (8477).  You can remain anonymous when calling either number.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office