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FBI Issues Warning to Sports Leagues About Organized Theft Groups Targeting Athletes
The FBI has issued a grave warning to professional sports leagues about organized crime groups targeting the homes of high-profile athletes.
This alert follows a series of burglaries reported between September and December 2024, which saw numerous professional athletes fall victim to these sophisticated theft rings.
Among the most recent cases, Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić had his home burglarized, while NFL superstars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Joe Burrow also suffered similar fates.
These organized theft groups, many of which originate from South America, employ a mix of physical surveillance and advanced technology to plan and execute their crimes.
By leveraging publicly accessible information and athletes’ social media activity, they track their targets’ schedules, identifying vulnerabilities like game nights or vacations when homes are left unoccupied.
The groups reportedly use cutting-edge technologies such as drones, Wi-Fi jammers to disable home security systems, and devices to block surveillance cameras.
By employing such tactics, thieves can bypass alarms and swiftly locate and steal high-value items such as designer handbags, jewelry, luxury watches, and cash.
Beyond Dončić, homes belonging to NBA players Mike Conley Jr. and Bobby Portis, as well as NFL stars Mahomes, Kelce and Burrow, have been targeted.
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One burglary alone resulted in the theft of $30,000 in valuables.
Adding to this concern, reports indicate that while most crimes occur when homes are vacant, a few have happened while residents were inside—a terrifying prospect that could lead to confrontation and potential violence.
To counter this troubling trend, the FBI is urging athletes—and the leagues they’re part of—to adopt more proactive security measures.
Athletes are being encouraged to employ additional layers of home security, such as upgraded alarm systems, guard dogs, and video surveillance.
The FBI also advises athletes to avoid posting real-time updates of their locations on social media, especially when traveling.
They warn against sharing visuals of the interior of their homes or flaunting expensive belongings, as posts of this nature can reveal crucial details to potential criminals.