FBI Alerts on Burglars Targeting Homes of Professional Athletes – One America News Network
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
9:56 AM – Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The FBI has formally issued a warning to U.S. sports teams regarding organized crime groups targeting professional athletes.
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This alert follows a series of burglaries at the homes of professional athletes while they were away for games or traveling, beginning in September.
“These residences are targeted for burglary based on the assumption they contain high-value items such as designer bags, jewelry, watches, and cash,” the FBI noted in a Liaison Report.
The report further elaborated that “organized theft groups reportedly burglarized the homes of at least nine professional athletes” between September and November 2024.
“While many burglaries occur with homes unoccupied, some happen while the residents are present. In such cases, individuals are advised to seek police assistance and avoid approaching criminals who may be armed or violent,” the report stated.
However, these incidents were not specified in the FBI report.
The FBI indicated that South American organized crime syndicates prepare for these incidents by employing both technical and physical surveillance methods, using social media and publicly available information to analyze potential victims’ lifestyle habits. They often have prior knowledge of where valuable items are stored within a home, the FBI noted.
“These preparatory methods enable theft groups to execute burglaries quickly. Organized theft groups can circumvent alarm systems, utilize Wi-Fi jammers to disrupt connections and disable devices, obscure security cameras, and conceal their identities,” the FBI report added.
The FBI advised athletes to maintain an inventory of their valuables, enhance their security measures, and be cautious about what they share on social media, including refraining from posting images of valuable items, interior home decor, and real-time updates while on vacation. The bureau also urged athletes to increase reporting of suspicious activities.
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