Suspected mail thief caught in viral video in Studio City has prior criminal history
STUDIO CITY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man accused of stealing mail from apartments in Studio City and trying to stab one of the residents who tried to stop him has been arrested.
The video of the confrontation went viral. Valley vigilantes pepper-sprayed and tackled the suspected mail thief after they caught him in the act.
Sarkis Yaralyan, 42, was arrested Thursday after detectives served a search warrant at his North Hollywood home and found "evidence related to the crimes," according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police didn't specify what was found.
Yaralyan was booked for assault with a deadly weapon. This isn't his first arrest, and he's no stranger to law enforcement.
"He was stealing whatever he could get his hands on, and when you push us to a point, what do you expect us to do?" Tim Brehmer asked.
As the violent confrontation with the "Valley vigilante" went viral, word spread just as quickly about Yaralyan's criminal history and his modest $80,000 bail, which is considered far too low by many Studio City residents, including Brehmer, the now-bruised and bandaged man who took him down in the viral video.
"Why not make an example of this guy when he has a rap sheet?" asked Brehmer. "It's not his first time. It's not his second."
In just the last three years, Yaralyan has had multiple felony arrests -- including for identity theft, burglary and receiving stolen property.
While he's still in jail for his latest arrest, he only needs to post $8,000 to get out.
Residents at apartment complexes in Studio City who have had their identities stolen are tired of seeing the same people commit crimes, only to be let out to do it again.
"This guy needs to find a job, bottom line. He needs to find something else to do with his time," said Studio City resident Corey Renfree.
It's not just stolen packages, money or identities; Brehmer also had something more personal stolen -- a letter to him written by a friend who took his own life.
"When I found out he stole something I could never get back, answers I'll never have, reasons why my friend ended up killing himself, I lost every bit of composure I had," he said.
Brehmer says since his vigilante video made the rounds, he's been contacted by people from all over -- including Sherman Oaks and Glendale -- about a suspect matching Yaralyan's description stealing their mail.
He's urging other victims to contact LAPD, in hopes some of the stolen items are in police possession.
"Let them know what they stole from you. Make sure there's pictures so they can prove that it's yours. So that if they find it there, you can get it back and have some peace of mind," Brehmer said. "I don't think I'm going to find mine. I think mine was just thrown out."
