Overview
- The pattern of home burglaries targeting professional athletes began about two years ago when players were robbed while on road trips.
- Argentine police arrested two Chilean suspects at a Buenos Aires bus station and the men remain in custody awaiting extradition to the United States.
- U.S. authorities say the ring used public travel schedules and social media to pick targets and employed technology to bypass alarms, block networks, disable devices, and cover cameras during break-ins.
- Investigators have tied suspects to stolen cash, jewelry, trophies and memorabilia using rental-car records, cell-tower data and seized photos, and prior multinational operations produced arrests in Chile.
- The crimes prompted an NFL security alert and an FBI warning, and leagues, players and law enforcement are tightening security while U.S. prosecutors prepare for federal cases.