Boxer gets her belts back
Mission Hills–In a photograph released to the media, boxer Jennifer “The Razor” Barber triumphantly reclaimed two of her championship belts after losing them the year previously. But Barber’s victory took place in LAPD offices and not in the boxing ring, and she hadn’t relinquished the belts after losing to an opponent. Barber reclaimed her championship belts after LAPD detectives recently found them in the Sylmar home of convicted burglar Jose Pedraza.
Jennifer "The Razor" Barber got her championship belts returned
“The smile on Jennifer’s face says it all,” said Detective William Cooper, who investigated the burglary. “We were glad we were able to get her back her belts.”
According to an LAPD press release, Pedraza was caught almost one year after the March 20th robbery that victimized Barber and her husband. After the burglary, police were able to find finger prints on a mirror in Barber’s Mission Hills residence and match it to Pedraza, who was about to be deported to Mexico after serving time for two previous burglaries.
“When the print report came in, we had to act fast,” said Detective Cooper. “Unlike the other burglaries, Pedraza was not copping out to this one, and it seemed like he was in a hurry to get out of the country, like he was trying to avoid something.”
Detectives were able to stop Pedraza’s deportation by obtaining a search warrant and conducting a probation search at Pedraza’s residence. During the search, police recovered the belts at the bottom of a clothes hamper and arrested Pedraza for his third burglary in the last year. Despite recovering Barber’s belts, the LAPD was not able to locate her and her husband’s wedding rings that had also been stolen in the burglary.
Meanwhile, Pedraza’s sticky fingers and the prints they leave behind continue to lead to criminal charges. In Pedraza’s previous two arrests, authorities were able to connect him to the burglaries after finding his finger prints at the scene. When detectives caught up with Pedraza for those two burglaries, he was doing community service at the Mission Hills Police Department for a DUI conviction. Pedraza’s deportation will be delayed once again as he faces the burglary charges.
Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective William Cooper, Mission Burglary Unit, at (818) 838-9866. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.
Read More:
Daily News: Valley boxing champ gets her stolen belts back, thanks to LAPD
CBS Los Angeles: Stolen Championship Women’s Boxing Belts Found At Home Of Convicted Burglar About To Be Deported
LA Times: LAPD returns boxing championship belts stolen in burglary
