The FBI warned the NBA that many of the recent robberies at the homes of professional athletes and high-net-worth individuals could be related to sophisticated South American robbery rings. The league reported in a memo accessed by Reuters this Friday.
Two NBA players had their homes robbed in recent weeks, according to media reports, along with two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs teammate Travis Kelce, who dates pop superstar Taylor Swift.
The memo, which the NBA addressed to teams across the league, advises that players install up-to-date security systems and use protective guard services when away from home for long periods.
“NBA security received information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that linked many of the home burglaries to transnational South American thief groups (SATG),” said the note.
“According to reports, These Satgs are sophisticated and well-organized networks that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies such as pre-surveillance, drones and signal jamming devices.”
According to the FBI, All the homes raided were unoccupied and, in most cases, were equipped with alarm systems that had not been activated.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The memo is similar in nature to a document that the American Football League, NFL, sent out this week, in which the league advised players to beef up security at home.
Media reports and team schedules make it easy to know when players are on the road. The NFL urged players to be careful about what they post on social media.
