Suspects arrested in Chile for burglaries targeting athletes in US, Argentina

Chilean police have arrested three individuals suspected of carrying out a series of burglaries targeting the homes of well-known athletes in the United States and Argentina. The thieves allegedly stole valuable items such as luxury watches, jewelry, and sports memorabilia, including jerseys.

Among the high-profile victims identified are Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, whose home was reportedly burglarized on October 7, 2024, while he was away for a game, with $20,000 in cash stolen. Other targets allegedly included former tennis star Juan Martín del Potro, Dallas Cowboys player Linval Joseph, and Milwaukee Bucks player Bobby Portis. The crimes occurred throughout 2024 and 2025.

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These individuals will face justice in the United States or Argentina. They did not have a significant criminal record in Chile, as they specialized in robberies outside our borders.

According to Interpol Commissioner Enrique Gutiérrez, the three suspects specialized in robberies outside Chile and will face justice in the U.S. or Argentina. Police stated that the suspects monitored their targets' homes before breaking in. They also used social media profiles to determine when the owners were absent and to assess the properties' security measures.

This wave of burglaries prompted the National Football League (NFL) to issue a warning to its athletes. The league advised players to be cautious, explaining that criminals were using publicly available data, including team schedules and social media activity of players and their families, to identify empty homes, often during game times. In February of the previous year, seven men were charged in connection with a related series of crimes.

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By monitoring team schedules and the social media profiles of players and their families, they wait for homes to be empty - often during games.