PASADENA >> Nearly a year after a $10,000 wristwatch was stolen from a locker at a Pasadena gym, police used an undercover sting last month to arrest a Thousand Oaks man accused of trying to sell the pricey timepiece online, authorities said.
The Panerai mens’ watch was stolen in a locker burglary at a Pasadena gym on Feb. 28, 2014, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said in a written statement.
It belongs to a Monrovia man, who had it stolen while at Gold’s Gym, 39 South Altadena Drive, Lt. Art Chute said.
“When he completed his workout, the victim discovered that his locker had been broken into and his property had been stolen,” Sanchez said.
The victim then began some cyber sleuthing, looking for his stolen watch online, police said.
“In January 2015, the victim saw a watch for bid that he believed was his, based on distinctive markings,” according to the chief.
The victim contacted the persons selling the watch and notified Pasadena police, officials said.
The watch, a PAM 188 Luminor Daylight Chronograph, was being offered for sale on eBay, Chute said. It had garnered a high bid of $909, with six days left in the online auction.
“Following a comprehensive investigation, (Detective James) Riehl identified a possible suspect,” Sanchez said.
The detective then worked with the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force to arrange a Jan. 22 meeting between an undercover officer and the suspect, 25-year-old Brandon Rodriguez, according to police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
“When Rodriguez arrived at the meeting location, he presented the watch to a Pasadena undercover officer,” Sanchez said. “Rodriguez was immediately taken into custody without incident.”
He was booked on suspicion of grand theft and released from jail the same day on a $20,000 bond pending his initial court appearance, according to police arrest logs and county booking records. His occupation was listed as “unemployed.”
“This was a great arrest,” Sanchez said.
Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were also looking into other items being offered for sale online by Rodriguez to see if any of them were stolen as well, he added.