LOS ANGELES (AP) — Last month, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler fell victim to a theft while he was attending the inaugural California Crown races at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. As he navigated through the crowded venue with his wife, McKenzie, and teammate Jack Flaherty, thieves managed to deftly remove an expensive watch from Buehler’s wrist, according to police reports released on Tuesday. This incident occurred just weeks after another California athlete was audaciously robbed.
Fortunately, Buehler was not threatened during the incident, which took place on September 28. Authorities are currently investigating this theft along with two other similar incidents that day, all believed to be orchestrated by organized groups targeting high-end watches during large public gatherings.
The watch he lost adds to a concerning trend of robberies against athletes, highlighting escalating crime rates in the area. Just days before this incident, Buehler had played his last regular-season game, and his team was preparing to compete against the San Diego Padres in the National League Divisional Series.
His agency, Excel Sports Management, confirmed that Buehler was “unknowingly the victim of a snatch and grab robbery.” They expressed relief that both he and McKenzie were unharmed and noted that Buehler is now solely focused on the playoffs.
The Dodgers organization opted not to comment on the incident, directing inquiries to the police department in Arcadia. On the same day as Buehler’s theft, law enforcement apprehended a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles linked to the watch thefts. The stolen watches were valued at $100,000 and $250,000, although it hasn’t been disclosed which one was Buehler’s.
This isn’t the first instance of crime affecting professional athletes in California. On August 31, rookie NFL player Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers was robbed at gunpoint while walking to his car in Union Square after shopping at luxury stores. In a harrowing encounter, a teenager stole Pearsall’s Rolex and jewelry, leading to a struggle that resulted in gunfire. Pearsall was shot in the chest but thankfully survived after being hospitalized for a day.
The rise of smash-and-grab incidents has drawn significant media attention, with videos of these crimes going viral and raising public concern about safety in California. As a response, voters will soon have the chance to vote on a proposed measure that aims to revise a 2014 law which downgraded many nonviolent theft offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.
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Associated Press reporter Beth Harris contributed to this report.
