Perpetrators are after big booty
Series of burglaries: FBI warns sports stars in the USA
December 31, 2024 – 11:08 a.mReading time: 1 min.
Recently there has been an increase in break-ins into the homes of prominent athletes in the USA. The FBI has now been talking about an organized series since September – and is issuing a warning to the major leagues.
The US secret service FBI has warned the major US sports leagues of a series of targeted break-ins targeting professional athletes. The groups of thieves apparently take advantage of the sports stars’ absence, for example during games or trips, to break into their homes. According to ABC News, the FBI made this known in a liaison report. No one has been injured in the incidents so far.
According to an FBI report, the homes of at least nine NFL and NBA athletes have been victims of such break-ins since September. The perpetrators focus on particularly high-quality goods such as designer bags, jewelry, watches and cash. Between September and November, organized groups from South America are said to be behind the crimes.
Those affected include well-known names such as football stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce (both Kansas City Chiefs) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals). Shortly after Christmas, the home of basketball star Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks was broken into. However, the FBI report does not specifically mention these cases.
The groups of thieves apparently prepare their break-ins carefully. They monitor potential victims and their homes by evaluating publicly available information and social media. This allows them to recognize behavioral patterns and often know in advance where valuables are stored.