Posted on: October 9, 2024, 05:22h.
Last updated on: October 9, 2024, 05:22h.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler was one of three people targeted during a grand theft spree at Santa Anita Park racetrack in Arcadia, Calif. last month.
The MBL star was relieved of his watch, which was worth “six figures,” according to Dodgers Nation, which broke the story. The thieves used distraction techniques and sleight of hand to separate Buehler from his expensive timepiece, police said.
Buehler’s Day Off
Buehler was one of a number of players who did not travel to Colorado for the final regular season series. Instead, he attended the races on September 28 with his wife, McKenzie Buehler, his agency Excel Baseball later confirmed.
A Kentucky native, the baseball player is a big horse racing fan and owns a stake in 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.
While the couple walked to their seats from the Paddock, Buehler was “unknowingly the victim of a snatch and grab robbery,” according to Excel Baseball.
“We are grateful Walker and McKenzie were not harmed, and Walker is focused on the playoffs,” the agency added.
Melted Into the Crowd
On Tuesday, Arcadia Police confirmed three incidents of grand theft occurred at the September 28 meet.
“In one incident, a victim was walking among a large crowd of patrons … while walking within the crowd, the victim was encircled by a group of unknown suspects,” police said in a news release.
These suspects limited the movement of the victim, creating confusion … and while the movement of the victim was limited, one of the suspects was able to remove the victim’s watch from their wrist.”
In this case, the victim was aware they had been robbed but the suspects quickly melted into the crowd and disappeared, police said.
Suspect Arrested
A second victim who was initially oblivious that a crime had been committed did not alert security until several hours later when they noticed the watch was missing, according to police. While authorities did not cite the names of the victims, based on the description of the event, this would appear to be Buehler.
In a third incident, a victim was approached by three suspects, one of whom attempted to embrace him, while another tried to remove his watch. The victim realized what was happening and confronted the suspects who immediately fled.
This victim was able to quickly alert security and Arcadia police officers leading to the arrest of 24-year-old Camilo Nino-Hernandez of Los Angeles.
Nino-Hernandez has been charged with felony grand theft and of being in possession of a fraudulent Social Security card, police said.
