In a troubling trend, the home of Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić became the latest target in a string of burglaries affecting high-profile professional athletes. The break-in, which occurred on Friday night while nobody was home, resulted in the theft of approximately $30,000 worth of jewelry, according to Dončić’s business manager Lara Beth Seager.
Pro Athletes Increasingly Targeted
Dončić, the 25-year-old Slovenian phenom, joins a growing list of sports stars who have fallen victim to home invasions in recent months. Since October, burglars have struck the residences of at least five other prominent athletes:
- Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs quarterback
- Travis Kelce – Kansas City Chiefs tight end
- Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
- Bobby Portis – Milwaukee Bucks forward
- Mike Conley Jr. – Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Leagues Issue Security Alerts
In response to the rash of burglaries, both the NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to their players, cautioning that “homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” The break-ins often occur when players are away from home for road games, exploiting their predictable travel schedules.
It’s really disappointing, and it’s a violation of the one place that you feel should be safe.
– Joe Burrow on the loss of privacy after his home was burglarized
Dončić Sidelined by Calf Strain
The burglary at Dončić’s residence came just two days after the five-time All-NBA selection suffered a left calf strain in a Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The injury is expected to keep the Mavericks’ franchise player out of action for approximately one month as he recovers.
As professional athletes grapple with the unsettling reality of being targeted by sophisticated burglary rings, leagues and teams are working to enhance security measures and provide resources to protect their most valuable assets – the players themselves. For Luka Dončić and his fellow sports stars, the focus now turns to ensuring the safety and privacy of their homes and families in an increasingly perilous landscape.
