The NBA joins the NFL in urging players to be cautious about home safety

The NBA is urging its players to take extra precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries at homes owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. as well as Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

In a memo the NBA sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the league said the FBI has linked some burglaries to “transnational South American theft rings” that are allegedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that contain advanced techniques and technologies including pre-surveillance, drones and signal jamming devices.”

Conley’s home was broken into Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game and jewelry was taken, officials told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Portis said his home was broken into on Nov. 2 and has offered a $40,000 reward for information related to the incident.

Mahomes and Kelce’s homes were broken into within days of each other last month, according to police reports, and the NFL issued a similar warning note to its teams this week.

The NFL and other professional sports leagues received a briefing from the FBI on Nov. 15, a source told ABC News.

The NBA memo, relaying information from the FBI, said the thefts are “primarily focused on cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches and luxury bags.”

The NBA, which has also provided guidance to team security personnel, recommended that players install up-to-date alarm systems with cameras and use them when leaving home, store valuables in locked and secured safes, remove online real estate ads that may show interior images of a home, “utilize protective guard services” during longer trips away from home and even have dogs help with home protection.

“Obviously, it’s frustrating, disappointing, but I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing,” Mahomes said recently. “But obviously something you don’t want to happen to anyone, but obviously yourself.”

One of the burglaries involving the Chiefs players happened on Oct. 7 on a game day. Portis was also playing a game when his home was robbed.

“They took most of my prized possessions,” Portis said.