Police Identify Suspect in Theft of Cart Carrying Hawks at SoFi Stadium

Police Identify Suspect in Theft of Motorized Cart with Trained Hawks

Inglewood police have identified a suspect in the theft of a motorized cart containing two trained hawks, taken last year during a Rams game at SoFi Stadium. This breakthrough comes approximately six months after the incident, which occurred outside the stadium.

According to police, the two-seat motorized cart was stolen from the lake area adjacent to the venue. Since then, one of the hawks has been successfully recovered. The bird was found near Seventh Street in Hacienda Heights after a homeowner discovered it in her backyard. However, the other hawk remains missing.

Inglewood Police Captain Neal Cichren stated that while detectives are aware of who took the cart, they are still investigating whether the suspect was aware that the hawks were onboard at the time of the theft. Surveillance footage recovered from the area shows individuals from the neighborhood opening the crate in which the hawks were held, allowing one of the birds to escape.

The missing hawk is identified as a Harris hawk, a species native to the Arizona desert, and it is reportedly tethered by a leash attached to its ankle. As of Wednesday afternoon, no charges have been filed in the case.

The trained hawks had been utilized by a handler to deter other birds during events at SoFi Stadium, underscoring their practical importance during such gatherings.