A South American criminal organization that has targeted wealthy neighborhoods in Southern California in recent years with sophisticated home invasions may now target the homes of professional athletes across the United States.
A South American organized theft group is believed to be behind robberies at the homes of at least nine professional athletes between September and November, according to an FBI report obtained by ABC News. There is. Following a series of thefts, the FBI warned sports leagues that criminal groups were targeting players’ homes for cash, watches, designer handbags, jewelry and other valuables, according to the report.
Some of the biggest names in American sports have been victims of recent break-ins and robberies, including Patrick Mahomes, Luka Doncic and Travis Kelce.
The report said South American thieves conduct extensive research before planning robberies. This includes monitoring players’ whereabouts and weekly routines via social media, tracking travel and match schedules, and conducting physical surveillance at home.
Many of the attacks took place while players and their families were away at games. In many cases, burglars know where valuables are kept in players’ homes before they begin their break-in, the report states.
“These preparatory tactics allow thieves to carry out robberies in a short amount of time,” the report said. “Organized thieves circumvent alarm systems and use Wi-Fi jammers to block Wi-Fi connections, disable devices, cover surveillance cameras, and obscure their identities.”
For the past five years, thieves from South America have entered the United States with the intention of committing robberies, selling the stolen goods and returning home to enjoy their riches, law enforcement officials said. And while crime statistics show that overall robberies are on the decline in Los Angeles, the number of crimes related to these robbery tourist groups is increasing in the city, Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told the Times in March. told.
These groups target wealthy areas of Los Angeles with jewelry and other big-ticket items that can be easily exchanged for cash in their homes, he said. Some of the tactics Hamilton describes (such as using jamming devices to disable home security systems) are similar to those the FBI reported using in recent robberies of players’ homes. is reflected.
NFL.com and the Associated Press reported in November that the NFL and NBA warned that sophisticated criminals were targeting the homes of professional athletes, and that South American criminal organizations were behind the robberies. He pointed out that it is thought that there are. Both the NFL and NBA noted that the FBI is investigating the robbery.
In September, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.’s home was burglarized while he was attending an NBA game. Then, Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes burglarized on consecutive days during away games in October. And in November, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was a similar target.
Earlier this month, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was with his team in Texas playing against the Cowboys when his home was burglarized. And on Friday, thieves made off with an estimated $30,000 worth of jewelry from Dallas Mavericks player Luka Doncic’s home during a road trip.
According to NFL.com, the NFL’s November warning also requires players not to share their location in real time on social media, to upgrade their security systems and to prevent valuables from being seen from outside their homes. It included advice to do the following. A warning shared in a recent FBI report reflects this advice, advising athletes to keep a tight inventory of valuables and refrain from sharing photos of the inside of their homes on social media. I did.
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