Patrick Mahomes' home was one of those burgled. © APA / JUSTIN K. ALLER

US sports: FBI warns major sports leagues about series of break-ins

According to a media report, the US secret service FBI has issued a warning to the major US sports leagues that organized gangs of thieves are targeting professionals.

31 December 2024

From: dpa

The warning follows a series of break-ins that began in September at the homes of sports stars while they were playing or traveling. So far, no one has been injured.

The houses are "targeted for burglaries because it is believed that high-value goods such as designer handbags, jewelry, watches and cash may be located there," the FBI said in a so-called liaison report quoted by ABC News. According to the report, organized gangs of thieves from South America broke into the homes of at least nine athletes, mainly from the NFL and NBA, between September and November.

Mahomes, Kelce and Doncic affected

In the series of break-ins, the perpetrators recently targeted the homes of football stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals), among others. Most recently, basketball star Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was affected shortly after Christmas. The FBI report does not specifically mention or refer to any of these incidents.

According to the FBI, in preparation for break-ins, gangs monitor their potential victims and their homes, using publicly available information and social media to identify patterns of living. They often know in advance where valuables are kept in a home.