Uninvited Wedding Guests Arrested for Stealing $60,000 in Cash at California Reception

GLENDALE, Calif. (KTLA) — Police reported on Saturday that they have apprehended two men who allegedly coordinated to attend a wedding in Glendale, California, uninvited and make off with costly gifts meant for the newlyweds.

The suspects in this grand theft case have been named by the Glendale Police Department as Armean Shirehjini and Andranik Avetisyan, both from Los Angeles. They are accused of making off with $60,000 in cash and a gift box loaded with numerous checks.

The incident reportedly took place last week at the Renaissance Banquet Hall. Though specifics are sparse, authorities indicated that Shirehjini — unfamiliar to the wedding party — exited the venue carrying the gifts and hurried into a waiting vehicle driven by Avetisyan. The duo then escaped in a black SUV.

During the week following the incident, Glendale Police Burglary Detectives utilized video footage and additional resources to track down the suspects, resulting in their capture at Shirehjini’s residence in Sherman Oaks on Friday.

At the time of Shirehjini’s arrest, police found him in possession of a handgun. No information was given on whether he attempted to use the firearm, and no gunshots were recorded.

Search warrants were conducted at the homes of both suspects, where detectives recovered the substantial sum of cash and the wedding checks made out to the victims. They also uncovered multiple firearms and various illegal drugs at both locations.

“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.