Three men were arrested April 28 on charges of theft at the Vons Pavilions grocery store at 2938 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley.

Those arrested were San Fernando Valley residents Edmond Tumasyan, 24, Daniyel Muradyn, 23, and Hamlet Papoyan, 20.

Witnesses at the store called police and reported a theft in progress at approximately 9:33 p.m.

Witnesses reported that the men fled with a large quantity of alcohol, which they placed into the back of a Lexus, according to a police report.

Police located the Lexus— which had its license plates removed—as it was driving southbound on Tapo Canyon Road toward the 118 Freeway.

The car was stopped near the Regal Center, and the occupants—Tumasyan, Muradyn and Papoyan—were identified by witnesses as the thieves.

The stolen property, a variety of alcoholic beverages valued at more than $1,000, was recovered from the Lexus and returned to the merchant.