Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Glendale Police Taking Red Bull Thieves By The Horns

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

red-bull-theft.jpg
Photo by nattu via Flickr
()


Photo by nattu via Flickr
Red Bull gives you wings but stealing Red Bull and reselling it gives you big troubles with the law. According to police, two people were arrested on Wednesday in Glendale after selling several stolen cases of the popular energy drink to smaller, independent businesses that purchase the beverages at a discount and profit from sales, reports the Glendale News-Press.

Detectives, during an undercover Glendale police operation, followed suspects Jelbert Davoode, 29, and 43-year-old Jozef Allahyarian as they sold stolen cases of Red Bull at a discounted rate to four small convenience stores in Glendale and Burbank.

According to police, the 24-pack cases, which were allegedly stolen by Davoode, can sell for up to $50 at chain stores and supermarkets. The pair were offering the stolen product for $18 to $25 per container.

Support for LAist comes from

Smart & Final representatives told Glendale police the increase in Red Bull thefts has recently cost the business upwards of $10,000, reports the Glendale News-Press. Store owners who bought the stolen product were reportedly cooperating with detectives.

Sevan Kamali, 22, of Glendale was also arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of stealing cases of Red Bull and for allegedly possessing heroin. Police found that some of the people connected to the Red Bull thefts are addicted to drugs and using "proceeds to fund their drug habits," notes the Glendale News-Press. Santa Clarita, Pasadena and Burbank have also suffered an increase in Red Bull thefts.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist