FBI investigating whether burglaries targeting athletes are linked to a transnational crime ring

The FBI is working with local law enforcement agencies to determine whether a recent spate of burglaries at the homes of professional sport stars are connected to a transnational crime ring such as one from South America, two senior law enforcement officials said.

The officials said Wednesday that they have not made any determination about who exactly is responsible and that the investigation is ongoing. The direction of the case is subject to change, the officials said.

The homes of two pillars of the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, were burglarized only hours apart last month, according to authorities and police reports.

Officers were sent to Mahomes’ house in Belton, Missouri, shortly after midnight Oct. 6, according to an incident summary from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

The report did not identify Mahomes, the Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but the listed address matches public records for him. The report did not specify whether anything was taken.

TMZ reported a break-in about 10 miles away at Kelce’s home in Leawood, Kansas, the next day. Twenty-thousand dollars was taken, according to a police report obtained by NBC affiliate KSHB of Kansas City.

NBC‘s “TODAY” show reported that Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis posted a video on Instagram on Nov. 3 saying his “prized possessions” were stolen from his home during his team’s game the previous day.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune also reported in September that thieves broke into the home of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game.

In a statement to NBC News, the Medina, Minnesota, Police Department, which is investigating the Conley case, said it was collaborating with other departments from different states in high-profile burglaries.

“We are aware of some of the other athletes in different states that have had their homes burglarized,” the statement said. “Our investigator is working with those agencies and other state and federal partners. We can’t say for sure that they are all related.”