(The Center Square) – The National Football League has issued a security alert to players after players’ homes were burglarized allegedly by a South American crime syndicate, NFL.com reported.
The NFL security alert was issued after a crime spree was reported spanning a few weeks in which NBA and NFL players were targeted, according to multiple news reports.
It was also issued after law enforcement officials over the past year increasingly reported crimes committed by South American theft groups (SATG) primarily run by Columbian and Chilean nationals who either illegally entered the U.S. or exploited a visa program, The Center Square reported.
Among the high profile athletes whose homes were targeted were Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in the Kansas City area, TMZ reported.
In Minnesota, the home of former Vikings player Linval Joseph, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys, was among several broken into in a suburban community. The burglaries were part of “what is believed to be connected to a string of crimes targeting affluent homes of professional athletes around the country,” Sports Illustrated reported.
NBA Minnesota Timberwolves player Mike Conley’s home was also burglarized in October, one of three homes burglarized on the same night, Sports Illustrated reported. The homes were unoccupied and the thieves “gained by breaking out windows on the rear of the residences. In all three burglaries there was jewelry taken from the master bedroom areas,” according to the Medina Police Department.
It also said, “We are aware of some of the other athletes in different states that have had their homes burglarized. Our investigator is working with those agencies and other state and federal partners,” NBC News reported.
Also in Minnesota, the Orono Police Department issued a security alert saying police departments in the area were receiving reports of multiple burglaries. “It is believed the suspects are not choosing houses at random and are watching them carefully prior to burglarizing them,” it said.
It also issued an advisory to residents to implement additional security measures, including installing security alarms, cameras and lights, linked to their cell phones and notifying the police department when they leave for an extended period of time, among other precautions.
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis said his home was also robbed. He posted surveillance video of the theft and offered a reward for anyone that helps find his stolen items.
“I consider Milwaukee my home,” he said in an Instagram post. “Unfortunately, last night while I was at work, my home was broken into and burglarized. Many of my prized possessions were stolen. I’ve worked hard to do good in the Milwaukee community and I hope you all can help do the same by sending any tips regarding this crime to: info@bobbyportis.com. Any information that directly leads to catching the criminals involved or return of my property will be rewarded.”
Authorities said the athletes’ homes were targeted when they were playing games. Public records are believed to have been used to find their homes; extensive surveillance was used to know when they were gone, including following their game schedules and social media posts, authorities have said.
Targeting high profile athletes appears to be a newer method employed by SATG members.
Last year, investigations were launched after high-net-worth individuals were targeted in residential neighborhoods in California, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, the District of Columbia and other locations, The Center Square reported.
Colombian and Chilean nationals who were arrested for the crimes have either illegally entered the U.S. or exploited a visa waiver program to get into the U.S., Dan Heath, a supervisory special agent with the FBI’s criminal investigations division, told the Washington Post. “They represent an enormous threat … in our country.”
The pattern appears to be the same in jurisdictions where the burglaries have occurred as described by one Tennessee police chief: “These suspects are believed to be part of a group that comes to this country specifically to commit crimes in areas where there are large homes. They’re very coordinated, they rotate people in and out of the country, and they change locations so they’re not here long.”
U.S. House Republicans also held hearings to address the SATG-related crime surge as the border crises worsened under the Biden administration. At the time, more than 10 million illegal border crossers were reported, the greatest number in U.S. history, The Center Square reported.
That number has since surpassed 14 million, The Center Square reported. Among them were nearly 500,000 Colombians, The Center Square reported.
