A string of burglaries targeting professional athletes’ homes has prompted the FBI to get involved.
The FBI issued a formal warning to professional leagues on Monday, informing them about a string of burglaries that began in early September and have persisted through the end of 2024.
The FBI reported that ‘at least nine professional athletes’ had their homes burglarized, including Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, as well as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, among others.
The break-in at Doncic’s home happened Friday night, the Dallas police department told USA TODAY Sports.
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What does the FBI say about the burglars?
Not much is known about the identity of the burglars. The FBI reports that they are an organized group stemming from South America who conduct thorough technical and physical surveillance in order to best prepare for each house.
‘These preparation tactics enable theft groups to conduct burglaries in a short amount of time. Organized theft groups bypass alarm systems, use Wi-Fi jammers to block Wi-Fi connections and disable devices, cover security cameras and obfuscate their identities,’ says the FBI.
The FBI also claimed that oftentimes, the burglars already know where the athletes hide their valuables, making the grabs that much easier.
The NFL and NBA have known about this for a while
This is not the first time we are hearing regarding the thefts. In November, both the NFL and NBA sent memos to their players informing them of the crime group and urging them to invest in security options.
The burglars target athletes while they are away for games and other team events. Athletes’ schedules are very well known, making them easier to target than other celebrities.
The most well known of these burglaries was Burrow. His home was invaded on Dec. 10, while the Bengals played the Dallas Cowboys. According to reports, model Olivia Ponton, who was staying at Burrow’s home at the time, returned to find broken windows. Ponton called the police and informed them of the crime.
Are these criminals violent?
It does not appear so. According to the FBI’s report, some of these burglaries have happened while others were still in the homes. No violence has occurred. However, the FBI also states that the best course of action is ‘to seek law enforcement help and avoid engaging with criminals, as they may be armed or use violence if confronted.’
The criminals usually try to target athletes when they know the homeowners are away, likely attempting to avoid confrontation altogether.