Bell flew home after competing in this weekend's race at Daytona to learn his home had been burglarized and racing memorabilia had been stolen.
Townsend Bell competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona over the weekend, then flew home to Los Angeles to receive bad news from his wife: Their home had been burglarized and the bulk of his racing memorabilia had been stolen.
Bell told The Associated Press on Monday the burglars made off with the 10 rings from his Indianapolis 500s, his ring for winning the 2001 Indy Lights championship, his Rolex watch from his 2014 victory in the 24-hour race and the Rolex he received for winning the IMSA title the next season.
Bell’s home was one of five burglarized in his Pacific Palisades neighborhood. To access his home, the thieves had to climb over a 6-foot fence and smash through the glass door in his master bedroom.
The jewelry was in a safe in a drawer, and Bell said the entire safe was ripped out and taken. A locked drawer in his closet was also removed, and most of the home was ransacked.
The burglary happened Friday night, but Bell was not made aware of it until he returned home because he’d left his cellphone in the Uber he took to the Los Angeles airport when he headed to Florida for the race. His only communication with his family was when he was able to check his email on his computer, and he said his wife didn’t want to bother him during the Rolex.
Bell’s team finished fifth in class in the twice-round-the-clock endurance race that ended Sunday.
All his items are engraved with his name, year and achievement. Bell is hoping that makes it easier for the items to be found.