In an incident that has both officials and bird enthusiasts ruffled, Inglewood Police are on the hunt for a suspect accused of stealing a utility vehicle and two hawks from SoFi Stadium on Sunday, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. The birds, employed by the stadium to scare away other birds, were taken along with a maroon-colored, two-seat Kawasaki Mule UTV near the lake area.
Seen last in the Century Village shopping area, details about the suspect, described as an adult man dressed in black with white striped shoulders on his shirt, were published by CBS News Los Angeles. Allegedly, the UTV had the key left in the ignition when it was commandeered, with the two Harris's hawks, named Alice and Bubba, inside containers affixed to the back.
Charles Cogger, the falconer responsible for the hawks, is reportedly reeling from the theft. Speaking the distress in his heart, "I've really been struggling for the last 24 hours. A lot of tears," Cogger told ABC7. His primary concern is the welfare of Alice and Bubba, who were notably missing their routine care. Cogger emphasized the urgency of their return, stating, "The problem is I really need to get them back by no later than Thursday because then that means they'll have gone four days without water or food, and that's pretty hard on them."
Stadium officials use the hawks, which are Harris's hawks known for their dark brown coloring and yellow feet, to naturally deter other birds during events, a service that's both eco-friendly and ingenious. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the stolen hawks or the maroon UTV is strongly encouraged to reach out to the Inglewood Police Department at 310-412-5206. In a plea for public assistance, Cogger urges anyone who spots the boxes containing the hawks to contact authorities or take the birds to an animal control center, as per his statement in the ABC7 interview.
