“Auto theft task forces throughout California work to identify and arrest those who steal vehicles. California DMV investigators work on these task forces to help solve these crimes, protecting people, businesses and insurance companies from financial harm.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
CAMARILLO– On December 15, 2024, the Ventura Area California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced the arrest of Tigran Vardanyan, 35, of North Hollywood for allegedly stealing high-end vehicles with a total value of $1,553,954. Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force (VenCATT) detectives located and arrested Vardanyan in Studio City on December 4th.
On August 28, 2024, VenCATT detectives began investigating the thefts of four high-end vehicles from the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall. The vehicles stolen were a:
- 2024 Rolls Royce Ghost,
- 2021 Mercedes G63,
- 2025 Land Rover Range Rover,
- and a 2022 Land Rover Range Rover.
Throughout the course of the investigation, and with the assistance of detectives from the CHP Southern Division Auto Theft unit, VenCATT detectives uncovered evidence of the same subject in possession of additional high-end stolen vehicles.
According to the CHP, at the time of his arrest, Vardanyan was in possession of multiple key fobs belonging to stolen vehicles and was also in possession of a tool used to steal vehicles. Vardanyan was transported and booked into the Ventura County Jail on multiple counts of both commercial burglary and the unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle. Vardanyan’s bail amount was set at $2,000,000.
The Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force is comprised of detectives and investigators from the:
- CHP
- Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO),
- Ventura County District Attorney’s Office,
- Oxnard Police Department (OPD),
- Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD),
- Ventura Police Department (VPD),
- and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The team is committed to the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of people and organizations who are engaged in auto theft activities impacting the County of Ventura.
