Owner of San Fernando Valley recycling company accused of receiving metal stolen from cities

The owner of a San Fernando Valley recycling company has been arrested on suspicion of allegedly receiving stolen property in connection with the theft of thousands of pounds of metal from local municipalities —including street-lighting wire and a bronze plaque, authorities said.

Bedros Zhamkochian, the owner of Tuxford Recycling, was arrested as part of a compliance-check operation on Friday, Sept. 13, targeting recycling centers and metal yards that was conducted by Los Angeles police, authorities said.

Zhamkochian, 56, was booked on suspicion of felony receiving stolen property and was released on his own recognizance, according to the LAPD and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

When a reporter called the shop for comment about the allegations, before hanging up a man said, “That’s (expletive). That’s what you can write.”

During the investigation, authorities said, the following property was recovered:

— 290 pounds of street-lighting wire allegedly stolen from the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting, estimated value of $2,000

— 290 pounds of street-lighting wire stolen from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, estimated value of $10,000

— a 256-pound bronze plaque stolen from the city of Burbank, estimated value of $10,000

— 3,366 pounds of copper and aluminum wire stolen from Caltrans, estimated value of $24,000

“Due to the amount of copper and aluminum wire recovered and the recovery of a bronze city of Burbank plaque, the owner of Tuxford Recycling, Bedros ‘Peter’ Zhamkochian, was arrested for … receiving stolen property,” an LAPD statement said.

Anyone with information on the case was asked to call LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division at 213-486-5920. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.