A spate of NBA burglaries targeting players across the Midwest has prompted an FBI investigation, with organized South American gangs believed to be responsible.
NFL and NBA Burglaries Prompt Security Fears Across the Midwest
Beginning in September of this year, several NFL and NBA athletes have had their properties targeted by gangs.
Break-ins across the Midwest region has seen, what the FBI believe to be organized South American theft groups targeting multi-million dollar houses of some of the nation’s most high-profile sportsmen.
Local police departments have revealed that the burglaries typically take place when players are on the road at away games.
The most recent reported incident saw Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow targeted on December 9, around the time his team were away in Dallas to face the Cowboys.
Intruders ransacked his $7.5 million Ohio mansion, and a smashed upstairs bedroom window was reported.
This follows a string of burglaries in the NFL, with Kansas City Chiefs duo Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kielce also experiencing break-ins withins days of eachother.
The former had $100,000 in jewelry and his first ever Super Bowl jersey stolen from his home in Kansas.
🚨NBA Urges Players to Strengthen Home Security Amid Athlete Burglary Wave
The NBA issued a memo Friday advising players to upgrade home security systems and consider guard dogs following a series of burglaries targeting professional athletes. Victims include NBA stars Mike… pic.twitter.com/GD30uXoxcN
— Kristy Tallman (@KristyTallman) November 23, 2024
NBA players have also been subject to chilling break-ins; Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis, Jr., Minnesota’s Mike Conley, Jr., and Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns were all targeted whilst out of town at away games.
Although the FBI have neither confirmed nor denied they believe it is connected to transnational crime groups, the organization have forwarded memos to the NBA and NFL describing the gangs as ‘well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices’.
The NFL have told players to consider several measures to make themselves less of a target, such as less activity on social media including reduced footage in homes that could reveal high-value items.
The NBA also recommended that players update alarm systems keep valuables locked up and secured, and even suggest hiring a guard service or adopting a dog to help ward off intruders.
