Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) questions a call by referee Sean Wright (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Monday, December 23, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo)
The FBI is warning sports leagues about criminal organizations targeting professional athletes following a series of burglaries at the homes of prominent NFL and NBA players.
Athletes’ homes are being targeted because they appear to contain high-end products such as designer handbags, jewelry, watches and cash, the FBI said in a statement. Liaison news report obtained by ABC News.
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The NFL and NBA have already done it issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins, some of which took place while the players were away with their teams for away games. The NFL alert says the homes of professional athletes in several sports have become “increasingly the target of burglaries perpetrated by organized and skilled groups.”
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. Lara Beth Seager, the star guard’s business manager, told multiple media outlets Saturday that there had been a break-in at Doncic’s home. Seager said no one was home at the time of the incident Friday evening and Doncic filed a police report.
Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati, as well as Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, were victims, as were NBA players Bobby Portis of Milwaukee and Mike Conley Jr. of Minnesota.
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Organized theft groups from South America are using publicly available information and social media to identify athletes’ habits and track their whereabouts, the FBI report says. The groups use technology that allows them to bypass alarm systems, block wireless Internet connections and disable devices, cover security cameras and hide their identities.
Athletes are encouraged to report suspicious activity, keep records of valuables and where they are kept, use additional security, and exercise caution on social media. The FBI also suggested athletes avoid posting photos of valuable items, the interior of their homes and real-time messages while on vacation.
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