FBI issues stern warning to pro athletes after home burglaries of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and others

The FBI has issued a warning to professional athletes following a string of organized burglaries that targeted professionals.

This comes days after Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic was targeted. However, he’s far from the only athlete to run into issues. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow, Bobby Portis Jr, and Tyler Seguin have all also seen their homes ransacked.

“These homes are targeted for burglary due to the perception they may have high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and cash,” FBI officials said.

“While many burglaries occur while homes are unoccupied, some burglaries occur while residents are home. In these instances, individuals are encouraged to seek law enforcement help and avoid engaging with criminals, as they may be armed or use violence if confronted.”

Along with the implication that these star athletes have money or valuable goods in their homes, their schedules are highly publicized. In particular, when players are on teams that have road trips, it is easy to know when their homes will likely be empty.

The rash of burglaries began in September 2024 and has continued since then. That included burglarizing the homes of at least nine professional athletes through November of 2024. However, the report from the FBI was not specific about instances or in naming athletes who’ve become victims of this group.

The FBI has added that the culprits are an organized group coming from South America. The group is skilled and uses preparation tactics to get in and out of homes without being captured. The FBI further explained what that might look like.

“Organized theft groups bypass alarm systems, use Wi-Fi jammers to block Wi-Fi connections and disable devices, cover security cameras, and obfuscate their identities,” the FBI said.

Joe Burrow was a notable recent athlete to be victimized by the group. That came while he was leading the Cincinnati Bengals during a Monday Night Football game in early December. At the time, it was unknown what was stolen but his home was ransacked. Earlier in the season, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes had their homes burglarized hours apart while preparing for their own Monday Night Football game.

Now, the FBI is calling for athletes to increase their home security and take precautions. That includes noting the valuables they have in their homes and not posting on social media when they’re away from home. Athletes are also encouraged to report any suspicious activity they notice.