“If you see something, say something.”
That warning from security experts was apparently completely ignored by film post-production studio workers as a burglar apparently walked off with high-end, pricey equipment in front of employees who never questioned the thief.
But now a Glendale man is facing several felony charges in connection with those burglaries at three post-production businesses in Burbank between August and October, police and prosecutors said Tuesday.
Armen Baghdaserians, 43, has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of grand theft of personal property and theft. He’s in custody on $500,000 bail and is due back at the Burbank courthouse on Dec. 1 for the setting of a preliminary hearing date.
“Surveillance footage depicts Baghdaserians entering three post- production studios and walking out with high value merchandise,” Burbank police Sgt. Claudio Losacco alleged. “He selected the items, which included an Apple MacBook Pro, a desktop computer and a production camera, and walked out of each business without raising suspicion or being confronted by employees.”
The following Burbank post-production businesses were targeted: Roland, at 3402 Winona Ave., on Aug. 18; Bang Zoom Entertainment, at 4720 W. Magnolia Blvd., on Sept. 7; and ESL Studios, at 1212 Chestnut St., on Oct. 28.
Using surveillance footage from the businesses, detectives identified Baghdaserians as the person allegedly responsible for the thefts, with a total loss of more than $12,000, Losacco said.
Burbank police arrested Baghdaserians Nov. 9 at Central Coin Laundry in Glendale, at 903 S. Central Ave., Losacco said.
“During the on-scene investigation and questioning, investigators located clothing in a laundromat dryer Baghdaserians was using that matched clothing he was wearing while committing the burglaries in this case,” the sergeant said.
The detectives also seized several credit cards in Baghdaserians’ vehicle that allegedly were stolen from Los Angeles area businesses, Losacco said.
Police circulated his booking photo, along with the surveillance photos, and asked “business owners, especially those in the post-production business, to review … photos of Baghdaserians to determine if he may be responsible for additional thefts,” Losacco said.
Anyone with information on the case was asked to contact Burbank Police Detective Gevork Mirakyan at (818) 238-3276, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222- TIPS.
–City News Service