The FBI has issued a warning to sports leagues about the risks of star athletes displaying valuables on social media, making them vulnerable to burglars who are aware of their travel schedules. The memo urges athletes to limit imagery of valuables such as cash, jewels, and electronics on public accounts, and advises them to keep boastful images of expensive belongings off social media. Recent victims of burglaries include athletes like Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Bobby Portis Jr., Joe Burrow, Luka Dončić, and the fiancée of Dak Prescott. The burglaries described in the memo are believed to be driven by South American organized theft groups who target athletes with high-value belongings and cash.
Author Scott Andrew Selby, who wrote “Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History,” explained that professional athletes are targeted because they are known to have money and valuable items that are easily stolen, which can be determined by monitoring their social media activity. The burglaries typically occur when the athletes are away from home. Recent incidents include the break-ins at the homes of Dončić and Burrow while they were away for games. Thieves stole $20,000 from Kelce’s home shortly after a football game. The FBI’s memo provides advice consistent with recent guidance given to athletes, encouraging them to be cautious about sharing images of expensive items online.
Authorities have alleged that organized criminal groups from South America are behind a series of burglaries targeting high-wealth estates across the United States in recent years. In one case, police in Chile recovered a watch that belonged to actor Keanu Reeves as part of a seizure of valuables related to a robbery and violence incident in Santiago. The watch was reportedly stolen in Los Angeles the previous year. Law enforcement agencies in California have been collaborating with the FBI to investigate and prosecute burglars believed to be part of these criminal groups. Three defendants from Chile and Italy were recently sentenced for conspiring to commit burglary in a case in Carlsbad. These criminals often exploit the Visa Waiver Program to travel to the United States without thorough background checks.
Chileans have been identified as a group that frequently exploits the Visa Waiver Program, which allows them to travel to the United States for 90 days without extensive vetting. District attorneys in Orange County and San Diego have raised concerns about Chilean criminals entering the country through the waiver program to commit burglaries. They believe that these individuals are not coming to the U.S. for tourism but to engage in criminal activities, targeting the homes of wealthy individuals like pro athletes. LAPD Chief of Detectives Alan Hamilton described the burglary suspects as belonging to transnational gangs and noted that investigations have led to suspects being tracked across various states in the country.
The FBI’s memo serves as a caution to athletes, leagues, and private businesses about the threat posed by organized criminal groups targeting high-profile individuals. The bureau regularly shares information with law enforcement and private sector partners to protect public safety. Athletes are advised to be mindful of their social media activity and avoid flaunting expensive items that could make them targets for burglaries. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels is crucial in combating these criminal syndicates who exploit vulnerabilities in the visa system to carry out sophisticated burglary operations targeting wealthy estates. Proposed changes to the Visa Waiver Program eligibility criteria aim to tighten security measures and prevent criminal elements from exploiting the system for unlawful activities in the United States.
