Two theft suspects were arrested after they were found with over $500,000 worth of stolen sports cards and memorabilia in El Segundo.
On April 10, El Segundo police responded to a theft in progress at Bullpen Sports HQ on the 200 block of Center Street at 4:30 p.m.
A male and a female suspect had entered the store. When the male suspect saw police arriving at the scene, he tried to flee but was tackled by officers just outside the store’s entrance.
He began fighting with officers and attempted to reach toward his waistband, which contained a fully loaded handgun, police said. Officers were eventually able to subdue him and take him into custody.
Inside the suspects’ vehicle, which was a stolen car, police found hundreds of stolen ID cards, stolen passports, methamphetamine, a loaded gun and $500,000 worth of stolen collectible sports cards and rare memorabilia.
Mitchell Guttenberg, co-owner of Bullpen Sports HQ, said the pair had initially visited his store on March 25, looking to sell a large number of sports cards.
“They were calm,” Guttenberg recalled. “They said their father had passed away and he had been collecting for years.”
Not suspecting anything strange, Guttenberg bought the cards from the suspects, however, he was later informed that the cards were reported stolen.
When they showed up at the store again on April 10, Guttenberg immediately called the police.
The male suspect was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property, narcotic charges, driving a stolen vehicle, and resisting/delaying /obstructing a peace officer.
The woman was arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of hard drugs with two or more prior convictions, and possession of identity theft with a prior conviction.
During the investigation, officers learned the suspects are likely responsible for a storage unit burglary where approximately $500,000 worth of high-value sports cards were taken.
Police did not release the pair’s identity as the thefts remain under investigation. Anyone with information can call the El Segundo Police Department at 310-524-2200.
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