Beaumont High students suspected in thefts from Rose Bowl lockers
Four Riverside County high school students were the targets of police searches that uncovered jewelry and other items missing from the University of Colorado locker room when the Buffaloes played UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Oct. 28, say the authorities.
At least three Colorado players had jewelry stolen from their lockers. Others had headphones and cash stolen.
Many of the missing items had already been mailed back to Colorado, but other items were seized from Beaumont High students during Pasadena police searches, according to Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian.
Tips left on the department’s tip line led officers to the suspected thieves.
“The [tips] has played a critical role in ensuring safety in our community,” Pasadena police said in a statement. “Our detectives worked diligently to follow up on all leads, which resulted in the rapid execution of search warrants. The investigation will continue.”
It is not clear whether all four Beaumont High students were football players, but none were on an official NCAA recruiting visit when they attended the game, according to UCLA spokeswoman Liza David.
The NCAA allows unlimited official visits to Division I schools, but only one visit is allowed per school, which can cover transportation to and from campus, lodging during the visit, three meals a day and three tickets to a home sporting event.
Often, players from high schools near a university take unofficial visits. Jason Brown, host of The Coach JB Show podcast claimed during a recent episode that at least two of the Beaumont students suspected in the theft were football players. He said they were removed by Pasadena police officers from the team bus headed to the team’s playoff game Friday night.
Beaumont football coach Jeff Steinberg declined to comment.
UCLA will provide home and visitor locker room security during Rose Bowl games. “We have security guards posted at all locker room entrances,” David said.
Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig, one of the Colorado players whose jewelry was stolen, retweeted a video of Buffaloes players discussing the situation after the 28-16 loss to UCLA. One player can be heard saying: “I just got mine, bro. I had the jewelry box and everything, bro. They took it from my jewelry box.”
Derderian said there have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. The case has been turned over to the Los Angeles County Juvenile Division.
