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Glendale Police Taking Red Bull Thieves By The Horns

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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.

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.

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