LA Man Linked To Coachella Valley Retail Theft Operation: RSO

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA — A Los Angeles man was arrested Monday after authorities linked him to a Southern California retail theft operation resulting in more than $30,000 in stolen merchandise, including in the Coachella Valley, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Artavazd Grigoryan, 59, was taken into custody without incident during the execution of a search warrant at a home in the 65000 block of Rolling Hills Drive in Desert Hot Springs. During the search, deputies recovered over $7,000 in stolen goods.

The investigation began June 19 when deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to a theft report in the 34000 block of Monterey Avenue in Rancho Mirage.

Members of the station’s Robbery Burglary Suppression Team took over the case and identified Grigoryan as the suspect. Investigators determined Grigoryan was responsible for multiple thefts targeting a single retailer across both the Coachella Valley and the Los Angeles area.

Grigoryan was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of burglary, grand theft, organized retail crime, and possession of stolen property.

The stolen property was returned to the retailer, according to the sheriff's department.

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact Deputy Marco Castaneda at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at 760-836-1600.