A search was continuing Tuesday for two hawks that were stolen from a SoFi Stadium parking lot during Sunday's Rams game when an unknown suspect swiped a utility vehicle carrying the birds.
The theft at 1001 S. Stadium Drive occurred at 2:22 p.m. Sunday when the suspect drove away in a maroon-colored, two-seater Kawasaki Mule utility task vehicle, which had the key left in the ignition, the Inglewood Police Department reported.
"Affixed to the bed of the UTV were two (brown) Harris's Hawks housed in green containers," police said in a statement. "These hawks are used during the games by a falconer in order to deter other birds in the area."
Witnesses saw the suspect drive the UTV off the SoFi Stadium property. It was last seen in the nearby Century Village shopping area.
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The cart was found on Tuesday morning near Century and Avalon. Falconer Charles Coggin told KNX News' Emily Valdez the birds, named Alice and Bubba, weren't in their boxes; however, the quail used to feed the birds was found wrapped in plastic.
"My heart just sank, and I feel a little bit more hopeful right now because they weren't found," he said. "So, there's a chance that they could still be alive and they could still be in this area somewhere."
There’s a $1000 reward for information leading to their return.
Anyone with any information regarding the crime was urged to call the Inglewood Police Department at 310-412-5206. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or at www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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