By Dianna Russini, Larry Holder and Alex Andrejev
The NFL sent a memo to teams from the league’s security branch earlier this week warning about the threat of burglary groups targeting the homes of professional athletes. The Athletic obtained a copy of the memo.
This alert comes after burglaries at the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce last month. Two law enforcement officials told NBC News the FBI is working with local agencies to determine whether the recent burglaries are connected to a transnational crime syndicate. Per NBC’s report Wednesday, there has been no determination about who is responsible and the investigation is ongoing.
“The homes of professional athletes across multiple sports leagues have become increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups,” the NFL’s memo said. “Law enforcement officials have noted these groups appear to exploit team schedules to target athletes’ homes on game days.”
The memo also included ways the groups survey players’ whereabouts and explained methods of entry into homes. The league security team provided recommendations regarding the use of social media, including avoiding posting images of expensive items or comments about hotel accommodations. The memo also spelled out methods of home security.
Mahomes addressed the incident involving his home last Wednesday, calling it “frustrating” and “disappointing.”
“I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing,” he said. “But obviously something that you don’t want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself.”
Officers responded to a reported burglary shortly after midnight on Oct. 6 at Mahomes’ estate in Belton, Mo., according to a police report from the Cass County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office. Mahomes is not identified in the report, but the address listed matches public records for the three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback.
A day after the reported burglary at Mahomes’ home, another reported burglary occurred around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 at a residence in Leawood, Kan., believed to belong to Kelce, according to a Leawood Police Department offense report. The Chiefs beat the New Orleans Saints at Arrowhead Stadium in a “Monday Night Football” game that night with Taylor Swift, Kelce’s girlfriend, in attendance.
The police report for the incident indicated that $20,000 in cash was taken and that there was $1,000 worth of damage to a rear door.
A spokesperson for the Leawood Police Department declined to provide additional details, saying the department does not release victim information except in cases of fatalities, crashes and homicides.
(Photo: Brooke Sutton / Getty Images)
