By OLIVIA CHRISTIE
Published: 04:24 EST, 12 December 2024 | Updated: 04:28 EST, 12 December 2024
The FBI believe South American gangs may be behind a string of burglaries at the homes of high-profile professional athletes in the Midwest.
Since September, there have been break-ins at properties belonging NBA and NFL players while they have been away at games, local police departments have said.
Last month, NBA champion Bobby Portis released harrowing footage of masked burglars trying to gain access to his Milwaukee mansion.
He posted on X that lots of his 'prized possessions' had been stolen and asked for help to find the perpetrators.
The 29-year-old shared a video to the social platform of two apparent burglars in ski masks at his front door.
The pair could be seen with flashlights as they seemingly tried to gain access to Portis' home.
And most recently, Cincinnati Bengals' quarterback Joe Burrow had his house broken into on Monday while he was in Dallas playing the Cowboys, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has said.
According to reports, there was a shattered window in the bedroom - which was ransacked by intruders.
The men could be seen wearing ski masks and with flashlights outside of Bobby Portis' home
Bobby Portis shared a video on X of the apparent burglars outside of his home last month
Joe Burrow moved into the property in Anderson Township, Ohio back in late 2023
Burrow purchased the $7.5million Cincinnati mansion - which sits on three acres and overlooks the Ohio River - back in late 2023.
According to the listing (via the New York Post), the house spans 7,300 square feet and features four bedrooms and six bathrooms.
The FBI has not confirmed or denied whether or not they are investigating if a transnational organized crime group is behind the thefts.
But in a memo last month seen by The New York Times, the NBA said it had been told by the FBI that it had 'connected many of the home burglaries to transnational South American Theft Groups'.
The FBI reportedly described these gangs as 'well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices'.
They tend to steal items that can easily be resold on the black market such as watches, jewelry and luxury hand bags.
According to the memo, most alarm systems were not activated and the houses were unoccupied at the time.
The NFL warned its players on November 20 about the recent spate of thefts, saying players were often being targeted on game days.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park
Kelce's $6million property in Leawood, Kansas (pictured) was raided by thieves last month
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was the victim of a break-in while he was in Dallas
Professional athletes have been told not to post updates about their whereabouts on social media to avoid being targeted.
Police reports obtained by The Athletic show that the homes of Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burgled on October 6 and October 7.
While Mahomes is said to have lost jerseys, medals, trophies, awards and more, Kelce reportedly had $100,000 in jewelry and his first ever Super Bowl jersey taken from his home in Leawood, Kansas.
Burglars are said to have targeted Mahomes' Belton pad at around midnight on October 6.
Kelce's home across the border in Kansas was then broken into shortly after on October 7, the day the Chiefs faced the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium with Taylor Swift watching on in the stands.
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley also had jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from his home on September 15, according to the Medina Police Department.