- Burglars broke into NBA star Luka Doncic’s home and stole $30,000 worth of jewelry on Friday.
- The FBI said it is investigating a series of burglaries at the homes of pro athletes in the US.
- The NBA said the FBI has connected the break-ins to a “transnational” South American crime group.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic’s home was the latest residence to be burglarized in a monthslong string of break-ins targeting the houses of professional athletes across the country.
Doncic’s business manager, Lara Beth Seager, told reporters on Saturday that Doncic’s home was targeted by thieves on Friday, according to The Dallas Morning News. A police report obtained by the outlet said the criminals got away with about $30,000 worth of jewelry.
Tyler Seguin, a player for the Dallas Stars hockey team, was also the target of a break-in earlier in the year, sources confirmed to the outlet. Seguin is the highest-paid player for the Stars, signing an eight-year, $78.8 million contract in 2018.
The Dallas sports stars aren’t the first professional athletes to face residential burglaries this year.
The NFL issued a security alert on November 21 to the player’s union and teams’ security directors after break-ins at the homes of Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, who is also Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. Sources told NFL.com at the time that the FBI was investigating the break-ins, which the agency believes are connected to a South American crime organization.
“It’s legit,” one source familiar with the situation told NFL.com. “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.”
The NBA also warned players in November to take additional security precautions following break-ins at the houses of Milwaukee Bucks star Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley. The home of Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s mother was also burglarized.
The NBA sent a memo to league officials, which The Associated Press obtained, that said the FBI has connected some of the burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.”
The FBI and Seager did not immediately return requests for comment from Business Insider.
