Russian crime ring targets California Home Depots

Three Russian nationals suspected in a series of burglaries at Home Depot were arrested by the California Highway Patrol on April 13, according to an article in the Chico Enterprise Record.

Yeugeniy Ivakhov, 24, of Carmichael; Vlademir Ivakhov, 19, of Carmichael; and Andrey Gelis, 26, of North Highlands were taken into custody after they were stopped for a vehicle code violation in Marysville, Calif. The CHP officer allegedly found unopened boxes of merchandise from Home Depot in the trunk. The estimated value of the items was $1,600.

Upon further investigation, the men were identified as suspects in burglaries of other Home Depot stores in the area. Authorities said the men operated a theft ring where two of them ran out of stores with merchandise while the third waited in a getaway car.

One of the suspects, Gelis, has warrants for his arrest in Sonoma, Napa, San Joaquin and Monterey counties, according to police.