Police in Inglewood are asking for the public’s help in locating two Harris hawks, which are deployed by a falconer during games at SoFi Stadium to keep other birds away, that were stolen Sunday.
The theft, according to a news release from the Inglewood Police Department, occurred just after 2:20 p.m.
Authorities said the two raptors were housed in green containers sitting in the back of a maroon-colored, two-seat Kawasaki utility task vehicle that was stolen.
Witnesses observed the suspect, described as a Black adult male wearing a black shirt and jacket with a white stripe going down the shoulder, black pants and shoes, drive the utility vehicle off SoFi Stadium property, with the last sighting of the utility vehicle being in the Century Village shopping area.
While Harris hawks are not threatened or endangered, raptors, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which prohibits harassment or hunting of the birds.
Harris hawks are somewhat unique among birds of prey in that they are generally social and often hunt and live in family groups.
The large birds of prey, whose diets consist of other birds, rodents, rabbits and lizards, have broad wings, long tails featuring a dark band with white at the tips and base of the tails, along with reddish-brown shoulder patches.
Authorities said the utility vehicle was parked near the lake area of SoFi Stadium at 1001 Stadium Drive when it was stolen.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Inglewood Police Department Watch Commander at 310-412-5206.
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