In December, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a warning about South American organised crime groups following a series of break-ins at the homes of celebrity athletes over several months.
In a recent development, a group of Chilean men have been arrested and charged with stealing nearly $USD300,000 ($AUD471,700) worth of luxury items, including jewellery, from Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s house.
According to a federal complaint, photos showed one suspect wearing a necklace bearing Burrow’s jersey number, which he had worn during interviews.
Kenneth Parker, US Attorney in southern Ohio, described the arrest as the ‘tip of the iceberg’.
“Some luxury watches and jewellery stolen from homes across the country — not just those belonging to athletes — ended up being sold at a pawnshop in Manhattan’s Diamond District and stashed away in nearby storage units, federal authorities said in court documents released Tuesday that accuse two men of fencing the items,” a report from the Associated Press detailed.
“Whether the entire string of burglaries targeting athletes are connected to the same crews from South America or if those groups are working together isn’t clear. Federal authorities leading the investigations have been tight-lipped since the FBI warned in December that crime organisations were preying on professional athletes.”
Criminals are believed to have posed as delivery drivers and maintenance workers to gain access to properties, while the use of drones and signal jamming devices is also suspected.
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