Originally posted at 9:29 a.m. March 19, 2014. Edited to correct age. An earlier version reported that the defendants have already entered a plea. The arraignment is scheduled for Friday.
Criminal charges were filed today against two Los Angeles men who allegedly placed a skimming device on an ATM at a Manhattan Beach bank.
Melik Torosyan, 31, and Khachatur Harutyunyan, 23, are facing one felony count each of conspiracy to commit grand theft, possession of identifying information of 10 or more victims and acquisition of access cards of four or more victims in a 12-month period.
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Manhattan Beach police got a tip about the skimming device Saturday evening and set up surveillance at the location, where they later arrested the suspects, officials said.
According to police, 17 personal identification numbers (PINs) were captured by the equipment set up Saturday, which include the skimmer and a pinhole camera that was mounted by tape to cover the ATM’s card slot.
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Police believe Torosyan and Karutyunyan also used similar setups at the same Chase bank previously and the one at 2600 N. Sepulveda Blvd. six times total, between Jan. 30 and March 14.
“All victims (account holders) have been identified,” according to a MBPD press release.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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