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Police recovered a watch belonging to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in Providence, Rhode Island, after a reported burglary at his Kansas home, according to ABC News’ Aaron Katersky.
A burglary took place at a home believed to belong to Kelce in Leawood, Kansas, on Oct. 7 around 7:30 p.m., according to a police report obtained by KSHB 41.
Police initially reported a loss of $20,000 in cash and $1,000 in damage to a back door, per KSHB 41.
The Chiefs played the New Orleans Saints at home the same night. The game kicked off at 7:15 p.m. local time.
The day prior, police in Cass County, Missouri, responded to a reported break-in at the residence of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes around midnight on Oct. 6, according to KCTV 5.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, former Minnesota Viking Linval Joseph and Minnesota Twins co-owner Jim Pohlad have reportedly also recently been the targets of home burglaries.
The NFL sent out a memo on Thursday warning players and teams to exercise caution regarding the reported burglaries, according to a copy of the document shared by The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
The memo warned players and teams that burglars have posed as delivery drivers, maintenance workers or joggers in order to survey houses, and discouraged them from sharing their locations or photos of expensive items on social media.
Dianna Russini @DMRussini
The NFL issued this security alert to clubs to tell their players and staff about “organized and skilled” criminals increasingly targeting professional athletes’ homes. pic.twitter.com/EoArE8dTw0
The NBA sent a similar warning memo on Thursday evening announcing that the FBI had connected the burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups (SATGs),” according to a copy of the document obtained by The Athletic.
The NBA told players that the FBI said these groups “incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices,” and that thieves were targeting cash and re-sellable items like “jewelry, watches and luxury bags.”
According to Katersky of ABC News, a “security source” said that “the burglars appear to know what they’re looking for, where it is in the home and are in and out within 15 minutes.”
So far the burglaries have occurred in empty homes, and there is some “concern about what happens if the athlete or his/her family members are present,” according to Katersky.
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