FBI agent speaks on the 'level of sophistication' in Chiefs burglaries
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, the alert was reported by NFL.com's Tom Pelissero on Thursday.
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.
Pelissero says his sources say that NFL Security confirmed the same crime pattern and the FBI is investigating this as international organized crime. FOX4 has since obtained the same security memo sent to teams and the NFLPA.
NFL Security says the group is exploiting victims by gathering information through social media, public records and other media reports. The memo goes on to say the thieves are targeting homes in secluded areas and are honing in on safes, high-end jewelry, handbags, cash and watches.
"A case of this magnitude that can cross stateliness and international lines is exactly what the FBI is in the business of doing and they'll be invaluable to this investigation,” Michael Tabman, a Former FBI Special Agent in Charge, said.
"This certainly has a level of sophistication to it, obviously."
They recommend players refrain from posting social media check-ins or what they're doing that day until the end of the day and try to avoid posting images or comments about their homes or where they are staying.
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.”
Police believe these crooks from South America hit at least three homes in our area, dressed in what appear to be hazmat-like suits.
The question: Where does this investigation go now? The former special agent in charge Michael Tabman has a few ideas.
"Gathering intelligence could be comparing notes on physical evidence, what informants are telling us. The FBI may have set up some sort of command center,” he explained.
All of that will help coordinate leads and tips they'll be following according to Tabman's basic investigative techniques because he says you never know it may be the smallest thread that will bring this all to life.
"We have to have an agency such as the FBI with broad jurisdiction throughout the country so that when we have crimes occurring in multiple states not only do we have the jurisdiction – but we have the resources,” he said.
Law enforcement should be on high alert for copycat attacks, whenever a crime like this is this publicized there is a risk of that.
Tabman says the FBI doesn't like to have any high-profile case go unsolved.
Mahomes addressed the burglaries and investigations last week.
“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.
This is a developing story that FOX4 will continue to update.