ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix police advise local athletes to be wary of robberies when they play out of state

Dec 13, 2024, 10:00 AM

Burglaries targeting professional athletes trending in 2024...

Professional athletes are increasingly being targeted by burglars, and Arizona players are being urged to take extra precautions when leaving home. (File Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(File Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — After a string of burglaries targeting pro athletes across the country, Arizona players are being urged to take extra precautions to protect their homes while they’re on the road.

Luckily, there are safeguards pros can take to avoid being victimized by the string of burglaries targeting professional athletes, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

“If you are leaving the house, make sure you notify family, neighbors,” Sgt. Brian Bower with Phoenix Police told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday.

It can make a world of difference for athletes who are on the road to play against other teams, he added.

Burglaries targeting professional athletes in fall 2024

Due to their conspicuous and public lives, pro athletes can make prime targets for organized crime.

Two stars hurt by the recent trend of burglaries targeting professional athletes were Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Criminals broke into both of their homes in October.

In response, the NFL send a security memo warning teams that pro athletes were trending targets by organized crime groups, according to the Associated Press.

The warning is especially pertinent as football season is in full swing, leading pro athletes to leave their homes to play on the field.

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow is the latest victim of the spike in burglaries targeting professional athletes. His home was broken into on Monday while he was on the road with the Bengals.

Several Arizona athletes, including those from ASU as they head into the 12-team College Football Playoff, are also on the road this season, making them potential targets for burglars.

“The police department is here to help, but we also encourage our community members to seek out help from their neighbors,” Bower said. “Make sure that they’re aware of your vacation plans so that they can help watch your house.”

A robust security plan, including a security system with fully-charged cameras, is especially expedient ahead of Christmas, as many people leave their homes to visit family. In fact, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is expecting to have more flights than ever before this holiday season.

“We all want to watch after each other and our goal is to make sure that we have a safe holiday season and to ensure that all of our property is back when we leave,” Bower said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s John Roller contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

(City of Phoenix media photo)...

Bailey Leasure

Phoenix reaches housing goal 5 years early

Phoenix announced it has reached its goal of creating or preserving over 53,000 houses throughout the city.

54 minutes ago

The Mesa Library has begun installing solar panel canopies. In addition to generating energy, the s...

David Veenstra

Mesa Library installing solar panel canopies to generate energy, provide shaded parking

The Mesa Library has begun installing solar panel canopies. In addition to generating energy, the solar panel canopies will provide covered parking.

1 hour ago

Valley events calendar...

KTAR.com

Valley events calendar: Here’s a rundown of things to do around metro Phoenix

Our Valley events calendar keeps you up to date on the wide variety of activities across the Phoenix area.

1 hour ago

(Pixabay photo)...

Bailey Leasure

Investigation involving death of Phoenix woman upgraded to homicide

A case involving the death of a Phoenix woman in December has been upgraded to a homicide following an investigation, authorities said Wednesday.

8 hours ago

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced she is launching a new webpage that will monitor ...

Bailey Leasure

Arizona attorney general launches webpage to monitor federal funding issues

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced she is launching a new webpage that will monitor federal funding issues.

10 hours ago

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced it has selected a design for an interchange proj...

Bailey Leasure

ADOT announces final design for State Route 347 interchange project

The Arizona Department of Transportation announced it has selected a design for an interchange project involving State Route 347 and Riggs Road.

12 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

...

Schwartz Laser Eye Center

Don’t miss the action with this game-changing procedure

PHOENIX -- The clear lens exchange procedure has emerged as a popular alternative to LASIK eye surgery.

Phoenix police advise local athletes to be wary of robberies when they play out of state