Authorities are trying to figure out why the homes of professional athletes are being targeted by thieves.
Among those who've had their homes ransacked and their belongings stolen is former Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph. Joseph's home is in Sunfish Lake, Minnesota, which is covered by the West St. Paul Police Department.
"Not only in Sunfish Lake, but again, across the metropolitan area and probably across the country, I call them professional burglars because they know what they're doing," says West St. Paul Police Chief Brian Sturgeon. "The big thing is, they know when the residences are not occupied."
Other pro athletes who are reporting break-ins at their homes are Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
There are reports that the NFL has alerted teams around the league about the rash of home burglaries targeting pro athletes, possibly being carried out by a "South American crime syndicate."
In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”
Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted.
Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood.
Burglars have entered through side doors, via balconies, or second-floor windows. They’ve targeted homes in secluded areas and focus on master bedrooms and closet areas.
Players were warned to avoid updating any social media with check-ins or daily activities until the end of the day. Posting expensive items on social media is discouraged.
The homes of Mahomes and Kelce were broken into within days of each other last month, law enforcement reports show. The break-ins happened just before and the day of Kansas City’s 26-13 home victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7, where Kelce’s superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift watched from the stands. No injuries were reported in either case.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.