Dodgers Pitcher's Watch Snatched From His Wrist By Swarm Of Robbers

ARCADIA, CA — Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler recently had his watch stolen off his wrist at Santa Anita Park, which came as police are investigating a series of similar crimes at the racetrack.

Buehler was at the track on Sept. 28 with his wife, McKenzie Marcinek, and his teammate, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, to attend the inaugural California Crown races. While walking from the paddock to his seat, Buehler was “unknowingly the victim of a snatch and grab robbery of his watch," his agency, Excel Sports Management, said in a statement.

Police are investigating three incidents of grand theft that occurred the same day at the racetrack, the Santa Anita Police Department said Tuesday. "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," police said.

Thieves successfully made off with two watches, valued at $100,000 and $250,000. In the third incident, the victim was able to thwart the robbery, police said.

In one incident, the victim was walking in a large crowd when he or she was encircled by a group of suspects. The suspects limited the movement of the victim and one suspect removed the victim's watch before the group left the area, police said.

The second theft also occurred when the victim was moving through a crowd. At some point during that time, someone took a watch off the victim's wrist, police said.

In the third incident, the victim was approached by three suspects. One of them attempted to embrace the victim as a second suspect began to remove the watch from his wrist, police said.

"The victim felt his watch being removed and confronted the suspects who immediately left the area," reads the release.

The victim reported the attempted theft to park security and police officers. Authorities were able to locate one of the suspects involved in the third incident and take him into custody.

Camilo Nino-Hernandez, 24, of Los Angeles, was arrested on felony charges of grand theft and being in possession of a fraudulent social security card. The case will be presented to the district attorney's office for review, police said.

Police have not specified which incident involved Buehler as a victim.

A lifelong horse-racing fan, starting pitcher Buehler grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and owns a micro-share in the American Thoroughbred racehorse Authentic, which won the Kentucky Derby in 2020, ABC 7 reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.