Arrowhead Pride
Kansas City players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes burglarized on successive days.
Last week, it was reported that the homes of two of the Kansas City Chiefs stars — quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce — were burglarized on successive days during early October.
“I mean, obviously it’s frustrating [and] disappointing,” said Mahomes last week. “I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing. But obviously, it’s something that you don’t want to happen to, really, anybody — but obviously yourself.”
Now it appears that these were part of a wave of burglaries that have taken place at the homes of professional athletes across the country. According to a story published Thursday by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Linval Joseph’s Minnesota home was burglarized over the weekend.
Sources say the FBI is investigating the crime wave as international organized crime. The league, the NFL Players Association and team security forces also have been monitoring the crime spree, which is believed to be tied to a South American crime syndicate.
On Wednesday, the NFL warned team security directors and the NFL Players Association about these incidents.
“It’s legit,” said one source familiar with the situation. “It’s a transnational crime ring, and over the last three weeks, they’ve focused on NBA and NFL players, and it’s all over the country.”
So far, the burglaries haven’t put anyone in danger — which appears to be deliberate.
Multiple people with knowledge of the crimes said the perpetrators are nonconfrontational and do not burglarize homes while residents are inside. Instead, they use public records to find players’ addresses and conduct extensive surveillance. Then, by tracking team schedules and the social media accounts of players and their families, they wait until homes are empty — often during games — and gain access and quickly steal items such as cash, jewelry, watches and handbags, focusing mainly on master bedrooms and closets.
It was reported that $20,000 in cash was taken from Kelce’s home.
The FBI has declined an opportunity to comment on these reports.
