The NFL and NBA recently issued warnings to their athletes about “well-organized, sophisticated” crime rings that might be involved in a series of home burglaries, urging them to take extra precautions.
In September, NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley’s home was broken into while he was at a Vikings game. In October, the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were both broken into just hours apart. And in November, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis’ home was broken into. Portis posted a video to Instagram saying that several of his “prized possessions” were stolen and offered a $40,000 reward for information.
Now, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has become the latest victim of a home burglary. While he was on the road playing the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, his house was burglarized.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said that Burrow’s home was broken into between Sunday afternoon and Monday night. It was reported at around 11 p.m. on Monday night by a woman who works for Burrow.v
No one was injured during the break-in, but the woman said that when she arrived at Burrow’s home, she noticed a broken window and found one of the rooms completely ransacked. Since Burrow was not there, he could not confirm what had been stolen, but the woman provided a non-detailed list of what items might have been missing.
The NFL wrote in a memo that the homes of professional athletes have been “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” Last month, the FBI was collaborating with local law enforcement agencies to determine if the burglaries were part of a larger transactional crime ring. The NBA revealed a connection between these burglaries and “transnational South American Theft Groups” which are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.”
They have not yet determined if the break-in at Burrow’s home was related or not. Public information officer Kyla Woods said that their “investigators are exploring every avenue”.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.