By Steve Neavling
The FBI has issued a warning to professional sports leagues, alerting them to a troubling trend of organized theft groups targeting athletes.
Since September, a series of burglaries have struck the homes of professional athletes while they were away for games or traveling, prompting the federal agency to take action.
“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 revealed that “organized theft groups allegedly burglarized the homes of at least nine professional athletes” during a two-month period between September and November 2024.
While many of these burglaries occurred when homes were empty, the FBI emphasized the risks of confronting burglars in cases where residents are present.
“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 noted.
High-profile athletes have recently fallen victim to these crimes, with reports of burglaries at the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, as well as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, NBA guard Mike Conley Jr., and Bobby Portis have also had their homes targeted. However, the FBI’s report does not specifically mention these incidents.
Organized theft groups originating from South America are believed to be behind the crime wave. According to the FBI, these groups utilize both physical and technical surveillance to plan their break-ins, relying on social media and publicly available data to map out the routines of their targets.
“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,” the report explained.
In light of the ongoing threat, the FBI has urged athletes to report any suspicious activity and to take precautions. Recommendations include keeping detailed records of valuables, investing in additional security measures, and exercising discretion on social media — particularly avoiding posts about high-value items, the interior of homes, and travel plans in real-time.
