KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) – Authorities have linked the recent burglaries of the homes of Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce to a South American crime syndicate.

The home of former Minnesota Vikings and current Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Linval Joseph was also hit over the weekend.

The crimes have spurred a security alert from the National Football League.

NFL officials announced Thursday a security alert to team directors and the players union about organized and skilled criminals who target the homes of professional athletes.

Sources indicated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into the crime wave as international organized crime. The league, the NFL Players Association and team security officials have also monitored the spree.

“It’s legit, it’s a transnational crime ring, and over the last three weeks, they’ve focused on NBA and NFL players, and it’s all over the country,” a source familiar with the station told NFL.com.

Multiple individuals with knowledge of the crimes reported that the criminals are nonconfrontational and do not burglarize homes while residents are inside.

Instead, they use public records, conduct surveillance and wait until homes are empty – often during games. They quickly steal items like cash, jewelry, watches and handbags as they focus on master bedrooms and closets.

The alert offered several recommendations such as not posting in real-time on social media, installing security systems and not keeping valuables in plain sight.

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