A group of thieves stole expensive watches from Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler and another person last month at Santa Anita Park’s horse racing meet, then tried to steal a third watch from another targeted victim, officials said Tuesday.
Arcadia police have arrested a Los Angeles man for the attempted theft on Sept. 28, but his two alleged accomplices remain unknown and on the loose. The culprits in the two thefts also have not been identified.
“It appears all three victims were targeted by different, organized groups of people whose sole purpose was to steal high-end watches through distraction and utilizing the large crowds at the event to create confusion,” Arcadia police Lt. Kollin Cieadlo said.
Police have not revealed the value of the two watches stolen but Cieadlo described them as being in the six-figures.
Following Walker’s final regular season start on Sept. 27, he and a number of other Dodgers players did not travel to Colorado for the final regular season series. That weekend, Walker and his wife McKenzie, were attending horse races at Santa Anita Park, according to a statement from Excel Sports Management, which is Buehler’s agency.
“While walking from the paddock to their seats, Walker was unknowingly the victim of a snatch and grab robbery of his watch. The incident was reported to police and is currently under investigation. We are grateful Walker and McKenzie were not harmed and Walker is focused on the playoffs,” the statement said.
The two thefts and attempted theft were reported to police around 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 28. Arcadia Police does not release information on victims as a policy.
In one of the thefts, the victim was walking in a crowd when they were surrounded by a group, police said.
While the movement of the victim was limited, one of the thieves was able to remove the victim’s watch, Cieadlo said, adding the group then dispersed and left the area. The victim realized their watch had been stolen and reported the theft to Santa Anita Park security.
The second victim was moving through a crowd when their watch was removed from their wrist, Cieadlo said. The victim discovered the watch missing several hours later and reported it to security.
The third victim was approached by three people. While one tried to embrace the victim, Cieadlo said, a second suspect began to remove the watch. The victim felt the watch being removed and confronted the would-be thieves who left.
The victim told security and police who were in the area. They found one suspect, a 24-year-old Los Angeles man, and arrested him on suspicion of attempted grand theft and being in possession of a fraudulent social security card. Booking records show he was cited and released.
The investigation is ongoing.
Police asked anyone with information to call them at 626-574-5151. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org.
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