If you thought hijacking trucks and trailers was a crime only seen in East Coast gangster epics (Goodfellas, Sopranos), think again.

It's happening right here in L.A., police say. And the target isn't alcohol, cigarettes or high-end electronics. It's fresh produce!

And the suspects aren't Italian at all. Forget about that. They're part of Armenian organized crime, says the LAPD.

The department says a series of these truck-trailer jackings was uncovered when, on Aug. 13, cops discovered the warehouse where the goods were allegedly being stored in the 12900 block of Saticoy Street in North Hollywood.


View Larger Map

Nothing too exotic was found, police say, just “shrimp, energy drinks and various frozen foods.” Most of the goods had been reported stolen, investigators said.

Did we fail to say, That's gangsta!?

Credit: Sam Butler / Flickr

Credit: Sam Butler / Flickr

The LAPD says the bad guys here don't use guns, force or Brooklyn accents. Rather they roll up in big rigs and present “counterfeit documentation in order to pick up cargo” and roll away with it in-tow.

Cops call the crime “fictitious pick-ups.” We call it ripping off food.

In any case, if you know something about this devious ring of gastronomic Gs, detectives would love to hear from you: 818-832-7510.

Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow LA Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.