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Three arrested over burglaries against high-profile athletes

May 25, 2026

Chilean authorities have apprehended three individuals believed to be part of an international burglary ring that systematically targeted professional athletes' homes in the United States and Argentina during 2024 and 2025. The suspects employed sophisticated surveillance techniques, including monitoring social media accounts and studying team schedules to determine when homes would be empty, before stealing valuable items such as expensive watches, jewelry, and sports memorabilia. The investigation gained momentum following a break-in at Argentine tennis champion Juan Martín del Potro's residence, which led police to identify and arrest the three suspects.

Who is affected

  • Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs player)
  • Juan Martín del Potro (2009 US Open tennis winner)
  • Linval Joseph (Dallas Cowboys player)
  • Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks forward)
  • NFL athletes (who received security warnings)
  • The three arrested suspects facing extradition
  • Professional athletes in the US and Argentina generally

What action is being taken

  • Chilean police are holding three arrested suspects
  • The suspects are being processed for extradition to the United States or Argentina
  • Chilean Interpol and the FBI are involved in the ongoing investigation

Why it matters

  • This case highlights the vulnerability of high-profile athletes to organized, international criminal enterprises that exploit public information and social media to conduct sophisticated burglaries. The coordinated nature of the crimes across multiple countries demonstrates how criminals leverage athletes' predictable schedules and public profiles to target them when their homes are unoccupied. The arrests and subsequent extradition proceedings represent an important step in disrupting this transnational criminal network and may deter similar organized burglary operations targeting wealthy public figures.

What's next

  • The three suspects will be extradited to face justice in either the United States or Argentina
  • The suspects will face legal proceedings in the countries where the crimes occurred

Read full article from source: BBC