The FBI issued a notice to sports leagues earlier this month to inform teams and players of recent burglaries targeting professional athletes and advising them on how to protect themselves against future crimes, two sources confirmed to CBS News.
The notice – a standard warning sent by federal investigators detailing reported thefts – indicated that at least nine professional athletes were the targets of a series of forced entry into their homes across the country between September and November, according to the sources. The FBI warned that this behavior, which included using publicly available information to target homes and deploying technology to bypass security systems, is consistent with past practices employed by international criminal organizations.
CBS News previously reported that the FBI was investigating the case and possible links to international gangs emanating from South America. The theory is one of several put forward by law enforcement and investigators are working to determine whether the string of recent burglaries is related and, if so, who might be responsible.
ABC News was first to report the FBI warning.
The bulletin – published before the news was announced Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic reportedly targeted — he advised sports leagues to notify athletes about burglaries, and he also listed ways athletes can protect their property, especially when traveling for out-of-town games. No specific athletes were named in the notice, according to both sources.
In addition to Doncic, CBS News has previously reported break-ins at the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback’s home. Joe Burrow, Kansas City Chiefs Stars Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce Mike Conley Jr.Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, and Tyler Seguin of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.
Contacted by CBS News, the FBI would not confirm releasing the notice earlier this month, but said in a statement: “While we cannot confirm or deny the existence of specific investigations, the FBI monitors potential threats and regularly shares information. with our law enforcement partners and the private sector to help protect public safety. As always, we ask members of the public to report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.