KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Football League sent a memo to team security directors and the NFL Players Association regarding recent burglaries that targeted Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, according to an NFL.com report.
Citing sources, FOX4 broke news earlier this week that investigators believe members of a South American crime ring burglarized Mahomes and Kelce’s homes in October, in addition to other professional athletes across the country, and another high-end home in the metro.
NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero says his sources say that NFL Security confirmed the same crime pattern and the FBI is investigating this as international organized crime.
In addition to Mahomes and Kelce, Pelissero reports former Minnesota Viking and current Dallas Cowboy Linval Joseph’s Minnesota home was targeted.
Outside of football, the same ring of burglars is suspected of stealing from NBA players Bobby Portis in Wisconsin and Mike Conley in Minnesota.
Locally, FOX4 learned that $20,000 in cash was stolen from Kelce’s home, it’s unknown what was taken from Mahomes, and the other connected burglary at a high-end home saw burglars take more than $500,000 in jewelry.
In that burglary, thieves were seen on surveillance video wearing full hazmat suits.
“This is a sophisticated operation, it’s not some guy that’s going down to the local pawn shop,” security expert Mike Barbieri told FOX4.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that this crime spree that is going across the entire country is designed by some very sophisticated people in somewhat of a cartel.”
“Obviously, it’s frustrating. It’s disappointing, but I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is ongoing. But it’s something you don’t want to happen to anybody but obviously yourself,” he said.
Pelissero reported that NFL Security suggested that players install security systems, keep valuables out of plain sight, and refrain from posting in real-time on social media.
This is a developing story that FOX4 will continue to update.