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The FBI has officially issued a warning to American pro athletes about “organized theft groups” from South America targeting their homes for burglaries. Targets of the burglary ring thus far have included several players from the NFL, NHL and NBA – two pro sports leagues that are currently in the midst of playing their games.
“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.
“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 FBI warned.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had his home broken into by someone while he was away, but his alleged new girlfriend model Olivia Ponton was in his home.
The FBI report also states that in the case of these burglaries the criminals conduct physical and technical surveillance including using publicly available information and social media. Social media may also be how the criminals are able to determine the locations of valuables inside the athlete’s homes.
Over those months, Burrow, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Linval Joseph, Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, NBA players Luka Doncic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mike Conley and Bobby Portis, and Dallas Star hockey player Tyler Seguin have all had their home broken into while they were away from home playing in games.
The FBI report states “organized theft groups allegedly burglarized the homes of at least nine professional athletes” between September and November 2024.
“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 FBI report added.