Following recent burglaries at the homes of professional athletes, including stars of the Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce – the NFL, NBA and NHL have warned teams about expert groups that are increasingly targeting players’ homes for such crimes.
An NFL security bulletin issued Wednesday and obtained by CNN warns that players from multiple sports leagues are being targeted. Perpetrators “appear to be abusing team schedules to attack athletes’ homes on race days,” and appear to be using public records, social media, media reports and surveillance to gather information about their targets, the report says.
The memo recommends that players take certain precautions on social media, including not posting activities as they happen, and not posting photos of expensive items such as jewelry, watches or flashy clothing.
It also encourages players to take home security steps, including installing comprehensive systems with cameras, sensors and outdoor lighting; with sturdy exterior doors with deadbolt locks and reinforced frames; store valuables out of sight; and use a trusted house sitter if possible.
“It is important for players to maintain situational awareness, practice social media safety and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of becoming a target,” the memo reads.
Some groups, the NFL memo says, are conducting extensive surveillance, including “attempting home deliveries” and “posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in a neighborhood.”
The NFL memo does not provide details on the identities of the groups or provide examples of specific burglaries.
However, NBA League security officials said in a Thursday memo obtained by CNN that they had received an FBI briefing that linked many burglaries of the homes of athletes and wealthy people “to transnational South American theft groups.”
“These SATGs are believed to be highly organized, sophisticated rings that contain advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones and signal jamming devices,” said the NBA memo, which was first reported by The Athletics.
“The FBI reported that in most incidents, homes were equipped with alarm systems that were not activated,” the NBA memo said. “The FBI also reported that the homes were all vacant and in most cases no dogs were present.”
Local law enforcement and the FBI are working to identify the perpetrators and determine whether group members were part of a transnational crime syndicate, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN. The FBI declined to comment to CNN on Thursday.
The memos came as concerns have grown among law enforcement agencies across the country in recent months “burglary tourists” – Criminals entering the United States from countries that qualify for visa waivers, allowing a visit of up to 90 days without a traditional tourist visa. When the suspects arrive — usually from South America, prosecutors say — they join sophisticated burglary networks that prey on luxury homes.
The leagues’ memos do not indicate whether the groups they are warning about exactly echo concerns previously raised by law enforcement about burglary tourists.
The burglaries at Mahomes and Kelce’s homes
The homes in the Kansas City area of Mahomes and Kelce were burglarized last month, according to local news media citing authorities.
One burglary occurred early Oct. 6 at a home in Cass County, Missouri, according to a report from the county sheriff’s office. That house belongs to Mahomes, the Chiefs quarterback, CNN affiliate KCTV And KSHB reported. Details about what was taken have not been released.
“It’s obviously frustrating and disappointing,” Mahomes said said last week when asked about the burglary. “I can’t go into too many details because the investigation is still ongoing, but it’s obviously something you don’t want to happen to anyone but yourself.”
The other burglary occurred in eastern Kansas on the evening of Oct. 7, according to a police report obtained by CNN — around the time the Chiefs hosted the New Orleans Saints for a game broadcast on “Monday Night Football.” The home was believed to be owned by Kelce, KCTV reported. The report, filed with police on Oct. 8, found that $20,000 in cash had been stolen and $1,000 in damage had been caused to a rear door.
CNN has reached out to both players and the Chiefs for comment.
The NHL told CNN on Friday that it has also warned its teams about the security threat to the homes of professional athletes, although there have been no public burglaries targeting hockey players. The NHL declined to share any communications it sent to clubs and the players’ union.
Burglaries have been reported at the homes of NBA players
There have also been recent reports of break-ins at the homes of NBA players.
The home of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. was burglarized on September 15. while attending a Minnesota Vikings game. This was reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune. A “quantity of jewelry yet to be determined” was stolen, the newspaper reported.
CNN has reached out to Conley, the Timberwolves and police in Medina, Minnesota, for more information and comment.
In one Instagram post on November 3, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis said his home was broken into the night before while he was playing in the Bucks’ home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
River Hills, Wisconsin, police have not yet responded to CNN’s request for details about the crime.
“Many of my prized possessions have been stolen,” Portis said, and later offered a $40,000 reward for information leading directly to the return of the stolen items.
CNN’s Josh Campbell, Jill Martin and Hanna Park contributed to this report.
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