LOS ANGELES — Thieves surrounded Los Angeles Dodgers beginning pitcher Walker Buehler final month outdoors a horse racing monitor in a Los Angeles suburb and slipped an costly watch off his arm, police mentioned Tuesday.
Buehler was not threatened in the course of the mugging Sept. 28 on the Santa Anita Park horse racing monitor in Arcadia, police there mentioned. They’re investigating two comparable episodes the identical day that officers mentioned have been by organized teams who steal high-end watches in giant crowds throughout occasions.
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Buehler was on the monitor that day together with his spouse, McKenzie, and a teammate, beginning pitcher Jack Flaherty, to attend the inaugural California Crown races. Buehler, a Lexington, Kentucky, native, is a significant horse racing fan.
Whereas strolling from the paddock to his seat, Buehler was “unknowingly the sufferer of a snatch and seize theft of his watch,” his company, Excel Sports activities Administration, mentioned in an announcement.
“We’re grateful Walker and McKenzie weren’t harmed and Walker is concentrated on the playoffs,” the company mentioned.
The Dodgers declined to remark and referred media to the Arcadia police.
In one of many three mugging episodes being investigated that day, police arrested a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles. Police mentioned the worth of the watches stolen was $100,000 for one and $250,000 for an additional. They didn’t say which one was Buehler’s.
The theft got here days after Buehler’s final regular-season recreation and every week earlier than the Dodgers started their Nationwide League Division Sequence towards the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Buehler began Sport 3 and gave up six runs throughout 5 innings because the Dodgers fell 6-5 in San Diego.
It was the second time this 12 months skilled athletes in California have been mugged.
On Aug. 31, San Francisco 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall was strolling alone to his automobile after buying at luxurious shops in San Francisco’s Union Sq. when he was the alleged goal of an tried theft by a teen who focused his Rolex watch and different costly jewellery, prosecutors mentioned.
A wrestle ensued, and gunfire from the teenager struck each Pearsall and the teenager, who was shot within the arm. Pearsall was shot by means of the chest at shut vary, officers mentioned. His mom, Erin Pearsall, posted on social media that the bullet went by means of the precise aspect of her son’s chest and out his again with out hanging important organs. He was launched from the hospital a day later.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
