Thief Who Ransacked Chivas Hotel Rooms Apprehended

After several weeks Los Angeles police have been able to link various robberies of different groups. One of those teams affected was Mexican side Chivas as they were in the area for a friendly against Chivas USA. Other groups that suffered the same fate included the Macabbi Electra Tel Aviv basketball team, in town for a game against the LA Clippers, and a salsa music group. The robberies occurred in a span of time from late August to Oct. 20.  

The most recent intrusion happened with the Macabbi Electra Tel Aviv basketball team on Oct. 20, at the Staples Center. According to the downtown head of detectives for Los Angeles, Lt. Paul Vernon, the man has been linked to all three robberies after comparing surveillance tape from the Staples Center and information from the hotels. The man then passed to the basketball team’s locker room after bypassing a ball boy who took him to be a Staples Center employee.  

Witnesses report that the man did not have proper credentials and was initially thrown out of the Staples Center.  

Vernon told the Associated Press that the culprit “returned, dressed in a suit, holding a clipboard, and with some kind of credential sticking out of his pocket.”

The Chivas robbery was the second stunt by the man. Chivas was staying at the Marriot in central Los Angeles for a game against Chivas USA. The man wore a Chivas jersey as he bid good luck to the team as they boarded the bus. According to reports he then convinced a worker to give him the keys to the team’s rooms.  

The man proceeded and took about $10,000 from several players who have not been identified.  

Identification of the man was given by his choice in hairstyle.

"It was a good catch. It was the slicked-back hair style that really stood out,” added Vernon.

Andrea Martinez, Goal.com

For more coverage of the Mexican Apertura 2009 season, visit Goal.com's Mexico section.