The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. as well as Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
In a memo the NBA sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, 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 taken, 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.
The homes of Mahomes and Kelce were broken into within days of each other last month, according to law enforcement reports, and the NFL issued a similar warning memo to its teams this week.
The NFL and other professional sports leagues received a briefing from the FBI on Nov. 15, a source told ABC News.
The NBA memo, relaying information from the FBI, said 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, which has also been giving guidance to team security personnel, recommended that players install updated alarm systems with cameras and use them whenever leaving the home, keep valuables in locked and secured safes, remove online real estate listings that may show interior photos of a home, “utilize protective guard services” during extended trips from the home and even have dogs assist with home protection.
“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.”
One of the break-ins involving the Chiefs players happened Oct. 7 on a game day. Portis was also playing a game when his home was robbed.
“They took most of my prized possessions,” Portis said.