ARCADIA, Calif. (KTLA) — Walker Buehler, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher set to take the mound in Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series on Tuesday, was reportedly the victim of a grand theft spree last month.
In a news release issued Tuesday morning, police in Arcadia, California, confirmed three separate grand theft incidents happened on Sept. 28 at the horse racing track in Santa Anita Park.
“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,” Arcadia police said. “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.”
The suspects quickly dispersed after one of them stole the watch, police said. At that time, the victim realized their property had been stolen and alerted park security.
A second similar incident occurred at the park that day with a victim having their watch stolen while moving through a large crowd. That victim did not alert security until several hours later when they noticed the watch was missing, authorities stated.
The third incident involved three suspects, police said, and occurred when one of them tried to embrace the victim.
“While attempting this, a second suspect began to remove the victim’s watch from their wrist,” the Arcadia Police Department said. “The victim felt his watch being removed and confronted the suspects, who immediately left the area.”
The victim quickly alerted security and Arcadia Police Department officers, who had arrived at the park. One of the suspects involved in the attempted theft, 24-year-old Camilo Nino-Hernandez of Los Angeles, was located and taken into custody.
Nino-Hernandez was charged with felony grand theft in addition to being in possession of a fraudulent Social Security card, police said.
According to police, it appears that 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.”
Dodgers Nation, an independent media organization that covers the Dodgers, identified Buehler as one of the victims and said the Dodgers ace’s watch was worth at least $100,000.
“Walker Buehler is about to pitch in one of the most important games of his career and he can’t even enjoy a day with his family,” Dodgers Nation said on X. “[He] was reportedly robbed of a six-figure watch recently at Santa Anita Park. As a community, we have to be better.”
Arcadia police did not identify any of the victims per department policy, so it is not known which of the three incidents involved Buehler. Police told The Associated Press Buehler was not threatened during the mugging.
Buehler is slated to start Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.
The Kentucky native is an avid horse racing fan who owns a partial stake in Authentic, a thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Anyone with information on the incidents or the suspects involved is asked to contact the Arcadia Police Department by calling 626-574-5151. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or by visiting the Crime Stoppers website.