According to a memo acquired by NBC News on Friday, the NBA issued a similar warning to players earlier this week to protect their belongings from “well-organized, sophisticated” transnational crime networks.
After a string of egregious house invasions that targeted some of the most well-known athletes in their respective sports, security officials with two of the biggest professional sports organizations in the world are on edge.
The NBA’s senior vice president and chief security officer, Leon Newsome, informed league presidents and general managers that FBI agents have briefed league officials, alerting them to the growing threat of “transnational South American Theft Groups (SATGs)” targeting “professional athletes and other high-net-worth individuals.”
“These SATGs are reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices,” Newsome said.
Cash and goods that can be resold on the black market, like jewelry, watches, and high-end purses, are the main targets of the SATGs. The majority of the occurrences, according to the FBI, were homes with alarm systems that were not turned on. Additionally, the FBI noted that none of the houses were occupied and that, for the most part, there were no pets inside.
No victims were named in the NBA memo.
However, the letter was written this week in response to recent reports of the burglaries of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr., Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.
The NFL advised players earlier this week to exercise caution when disclosing to the public any details about their residences, whereabouts, or opulent possessions.
“The homes of professional athletes across multiple sports leagues have become increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups,” the memo read.
“It is important for players to maintain situational awareness, practice social media safety and implement home security measures to reduce risk of becoming a target.”
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!