The FBI has officially warned sports leagues that organized crime groups are targeting elite athletes for theft. Since September, numerous professional players have experienced break-ins at their homes while they were away for games or traveling. This alarming trend is the reason for the warning.
“These homes are targeted for burglary due to the perception they may have high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and cash,” the FBI said in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News.
The report stated that “organized theft groups allegedly burglarized the homes of at least nine professional athletes” between September and November 2024.
“While many burglaries occur while homes are unoccupied, some burglaries occur while residents are home. In these instances, individuals are encouraged to seek law enforcement help and avoid engaging with criminals, as they may be armed or use violence if confronted,” the report further stated.
Recently, thieves have broken into the homes of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow, a quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, and most recently, Luka Dončić, a guard for the Dallas Mavericks.
Also, thieves broke into the homes of NBA guards Mike Conley Jr. and Bobby Portis. There is no specific mention of these events in the FBI report.
The FBI asked athletes to report suspicious activity more often and suggested that they keep track of their valuables by making an inventory of them and where they are kept, putting in place more security, and being careful on social media by not posting pictures of their valuables, the inside of their homes, or real-time updates while they are on vacation.
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