MIAMI (AP) 鈥 The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
In a memo the NBA sent to its team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the league revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to 鈥渢ransnational South American Theft Groups鈥 that are 鈥渞eportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.鈥
Conley's home was broken into on Sept. 15 when 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 has offered a $40,000 reward for information related to the incident. The homes of Mahomes and Kelce were broken into within days of each other last month, according to law enforcement reports, to its teams this week.
The NBA memo, relaying information from the FBI, said the theft rings 鈥渁re primarily focused on cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches, and luxury bags.鈥
The NBA, which has also been giving guidance to team security personnel, recommended that players install updated alarm systems with cameras and utilize them whenever leaving the home, keeping valuables in locked and secured safes, remove online real estate listings that may show interior photos of a home, 鈥渦tilize protective guard services鈥 during extended trips from the home and even suggested having dogs assist with home protection.
鈥淥bviously, it鈥檚 frustrating, disappointing, but I can鈥檛 get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing,鈥 Mahomes recently said. 鈥淏ut, obviously, something you don鈥檛 want to happen to anybody, but obviously yourself.鈥
One of the break-ins involving the Chiefs players happened on a game day 鈥 Oct. 7 鈥 and Portis was also playing a game when his home was robbed.
鈥淭hey took most of my prized possessions,鈥 Portis said.
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