The NBA is urging its players to take extra precautions to protect their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries at homes 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 linked some thefts to “transnational South American theft groups” that are “allegedly well-organized and sophisticated networks that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.”
Conley’s home was broken into on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game and jewelry was taken, officials told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Portis said his home was broken into on Nov. 2 and offered a $40,000 reward for information related to the incident.
Mahomes and Kelce’s homes were broken into within days of each other last month, according to police reports, and the NFL issued a similar warning memo to its teams this week.
The NFL and other professional sports leagues received a report from the FBI on Nov. 15, a source told ABC News.
The NBA memo, which relays information from the FBI, says the theft rings “focus primarily on cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches and luxury handbags.”
The NBA, which has also been providing guidance to team security staff, recommended that players install updated alarm systems with cameras and use them every time they leave home, store valuables in closed and secured safes, remove online real estate listings that can show photos of the interior of a home, “utilize protective guard services” during extended trips from home, and even have dogs help with home protection.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating, disappointing, but I can’t go into a lot of detail because the investigation is still ongoing,” Mahomes said recently. “But obviously something you don’t want to happen to anyone except yourself.”
One of the robberies involving Chiefs players occurred on October 7 on a game day. Portis was also playing when his house was broken into.
“They took most of my most prized possessions,” Portis said.
