FBI Issues Warning For Pro-Athletes

Elite athletes are under siege as organized crime groups target their homes in a wave of high-stakes burglaries, prompting an official FBI warning to sports leagues. Since September, professional players have found themselves vulnerable to sophisticated theft operations, with multiple homes broken into while athletes were away for games or travel.

“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 revealed in a Liaison Information Report obtained by ABC News. Between September and November 2024 alone, “organized theft groups allegedly burglarized the homes of at least nine professional athletes.”

Among the high-profile victims are Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić. NBA players Mike Conley Jr. and Bobby Portis have also been targeted, though these incidents were not explicitly mentioned in the FBI’s report.

The tactics employed by these criminal groups are both meticulous and high-tech. According to the FBI, thieves use a combination of physical surveillance and digital spying to map out their victims’ routines. Social media plays a significant role, with posts revealing schedules, valuables, and even the interiors of homes. This advanced preparation allows thieves to execute burglaries in a matter of minutes.

“Organized theft groups bypass alarm systems, use Wi-Fi jammers to block connections and disable devices, cover security cameras, and obfuscate their identities,” the FBI stated. These groups, often originating from South America, have been linked to a broader trend of “burglary tourism”—a phenomenon where criminals enter the U.S. specifically to commit theft, sell stolen goods, and return home with their profits.

Los Angeles has been a hotspot for such activity, with LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton confirming an uptick in crimes tied to these groups. “These groups target wealthy neighborhoods where homes have jewelry and high-value items that can be easily exchanged for cash,” Hamilton told The Los Angeles Times earlier this year. He added that their use of jamming devices to disable security systems mirrors the methods reported in the recent athlete burglaries.

Both the NFL and NBA issued warnings to players in November, advising heightened caution. “Do not share your real-time location on social media,” one NFL advisory stated, urging players to fortify their home security and ensure valuables are not visible from outside. The FBI echoed these recommendations, stressing the importance of creating an inventory of valuables, installing robust security measures, and exercising discretion online.

For over five years, law enforcement has tracked the activities of South American crime syndicates targeting affluent U.S. neighborhoods. While overall burglary rates have declined in cities like Los Angeles, crimes tied to these groups remain a growing concern.

The FBI has urged athletes and their families to report any suspicious activity immediately. “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 warned.

As elite athletes face this unprecedented threat, the message is clear: vigilance, discretion, and enhanced security are crucial to safeguarding their homes and families from these calculated crimes.