FBI issues warning to professional athletes about targeted burglaries

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies say it’s a growing problem and have issued warnings to professional sports leagues. The homes of rich, high-profile professional athletes are being targeted and burglarized when thieves know they are away.  

NBA star Luka Doncic is the latest victim. Dallas police say Doncic’s home was broken into Friday, Dec. 27, when he and the Dallas Mavericks were in Phoenix to take on the Suns. Police documents say $30,000 worth of jewelry was stolen during the heist.

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Doncic has not spoken to the media as he’s been out of action with a calf injury. However, his business manager, Lara Beth Seager, issued a statement saying, “No one was home at the time, and thankfully, Luka and his family are safe.”

Seager added, “Luka has filed a police report and an investigation is ongoing.”

In addition to Doncic, in the last few months, at least seven professional athletes from the NBA, NFL and NHL have had their homes burglarized, including star quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes.

Likewise, Doncic isn’t the only Dallas athlete to be targeted. According to local media outlet WFAA, Stars winger Tyler Seguin reportedly had $500,000 in watches stolen while playing a home game at American Airlines Arena in November.

Milwaukee Bucks star Bobby Portis, whose home was also burglarized in November, posted on Instagram that many of his prized possessions were stolen. He’s offering a $40,000 reward for any information leading to the recovery of his belongings.

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After the Doncic incident, the NBA released a statement saying, “This trend of targeted burglaries is unsettling to all of us. The NBA’s security department is working closely with our teams and the players association along with federal and local authorities to provide our full support and assistance. The safety of our players and their families is of paramount importance to us.”

According to an FBI report distributed to the leagues, the crimes are being committed by “organized theft groups from South America who use publicly available information and social media to identify athletes’ habits and track their comings and goings.”

The report went on to say, “The groups use technology, including Wi-Fi jammers, that allows them to bypass alarm systems, block wireless internet connections and disable devices, cover security cameras and hide their identities. These preparation tactics enable theft groups to conduct burglaries in a short amount of time.”