The NBA is urging its players to take necessary precautions to secure their homes in the wake of recent high-profile burglaries of houses owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. along with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
FBI has connected NBA, NFL player home burglaries to transnational South American Theft Groups
In a memo the NBA sent to team officials, the league said the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.”
Conley’s home was broken into Sept. 15 when he was at a Minnesota Vikings game and jewelry was stolen, officials told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Portis said his home was broken into Nov. 2 and has offered a $40,000 reward for information related to the incident.
According to law enforcement reports, the homes of Mahomes and Kelce were broken into within days of each other last month, and the NFL issued a similar warning memo to its teams this week.
I consider Milwaukee my home. Last night, while I was at work, my home was burglarized, and many of my prized possessions were stolen. If you have any tips or info, please send them to
in**@bo*********.com
. Rewards for info leading to recovery or arrests! pic.twitter.com/ORNYHxNC1c— Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) November 3, 2024
The NFL and other professional sports leagues received a briefing from the FBI on Nov. 15, per ABC News. Relaying information from the FBI, the NBA memo states that the theft rings “are primarily focused on cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches, and luxury bags.”
The NBA is urging its players to install updated alarm systems with cameras and use them whenever leaving their home. It is recommended that players also keep valuables in locked and secured safes.
NBA, NFL players are being urged to remove online real estate listings that may show interior photos of home(s)
Additionally, athletes are being told to remove online real estate listings that may show interior photos of a home. They should “utilize protective guard services” during extended trips from the home and have dogs assist with home protection as well.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating, disappointing, but I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing,” Mahomes recently said.
“But, obviously, something you don’t want to happen to anybody, but obviously yourself.”
According to multiple reports, one of the break-ins involving the Chiefs players happened Oct. 7 on a game day. Portis was also playing a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers when his home was robbed.
“This is a place I’ve considered home,” Portis said. “While I was at my game yesterday, I had a home invasion, and they took most of my prized possessions.”
In the surveillance video, two people were seen attempting to enter Portis’ home through one of his doors.
Athletes were not present at the time of the burglaries
Portis, a 10-year NBA veteran, shared the news on his social media accounts, posting a surveillance video of his front door and asking fans to email any tips or information to
in**@bo*********.com
.
None of the NBA and NFL athletes were around when the thieves ransacked their homes.
“The preliminary investigation indicates that all the residences were unoccupied at the time of the burglaries,” the Medina Police Department said after Conley’s home had been robbed.
“Access is believed to be gained by breaking out windows on the rear of the residences. In all three burglaries there was jewelry taken from the master bedroom areas.”
The suspects approached the houses from the rear, broke in through lower-level windows, and entered primary bedrooms. They bagged what jewels they could, and the thieves were out within five minutes, Police Chief Jason Nelson said.
