At least four professional athletes have had their homes burglarized in recent weeks, leading authorities to investigate whether the crimes are connected.
On Nov. 3, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis posted a video on Instagram saying he had been robbed during his team’s game the day before when the thieves took “most” of his “prized possessions” from his home.
He also shared surveillance video of the incident and posted another video on Nov. 6, in which he said, “I am now offering a 40K cash reward for any information and tips that leads to the return of my stolen items.”
Portis isn’t the only NBA player who has recently been the victim of a burglary. In September, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that multiple suspects broke into the home of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game.
In October, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce were also the victims of break-ins in their respective homes.
“It’s frustrating, disappointing, but I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing, but, obviously, something you don’t want to happen to really anybody,” Mahomes told reporters.
According to police reports obtained by NBC News, Mahomes’ eight-acre Missouri estate, which was featured on the Netflix series “Quarterback,” was targeted Oct. 6. Kelce had $20,000 in cash stolen from his house in Leawood, Kansas, according to a police report obtained by NBC affiliate KSHB. Both burglaries occurred while the players were in New Orleans for an Oct. 7 game against the Saints.
Kelce has previously said that he feels like a target.
“The one thing you don’t realize that when somebody posts your house online, that everybody now has your address,” he said on his “New Heights” podcast in May.
As for the possibility the break-ins at the four athletes’ homes are related, the police chief handling Portis’ case told a local Milwaukee station there are “striking similarities.” The police chief also said his department is working with the FBI and police from each of the states where the crimes took place.
In a statement to NBC News, the Medina, Minnesota, police department, which is investigating the Conley case, said, “We are aware of some of the other athletes in different states that have had their homes burglarized. Our investigator is working with those agencies and other state and federal partners. We can’t say for sure that they are all related.”
NBC News reached out to the athletes and the FBI. They had no comment while the investigation is ongoing.
