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DALLAS – The residence of Dallas Mavericks player Luka Doncic was the target of a burglary on Friday night, representing a troubling trend of break-ins affecting prominent athletes across the nation.
According to Dallas police, they responded to the incident at Doncic’s home located on Guernsey Lane around 10:30 p.m. Investigators revealed that intruders entered the premises and made off with various belongings.
So far, Doncic has not shared any comments regarding the break-in.
In light of rising incidents of burglary, the NBA issued a memo back in November urging players to bolster their home security measures while they are away. CBS Sports reported that this memo, obtained by the Associated Press, advised athletes on strategies such as upgrading alarm systems, safeguarding valuables in secure safes, employing security services during travel, and even considering pets for added protection.
The memo highlighted concerns from the FBI, which identified a connection between these burglaries and sophisticated “transnational South American Theft Groups.” These groups are reportedly employing advanced tactics, including pre-incident surveillance, using drones, and signal-jamming devices. The primary items targeted by these criminals include cash and easily resalable goods on the black market, notably luxury items like jewelry and high-end watches.
Doncic is not the only NBA player affected by this crime wave. Other athletes, including Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Mike Conley from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis, have also reported similar incidents, according to CBS Sports.
Bobby Portis stated that during a break-in last November, he lost “most of my prized possessions” and subsequently offered a reward of $40,000 for any leads on recovering those items.
The threat of burglaries has extended beyond the NBA, with NFL stars like Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs also being targeted in successive incidents in October, alongside Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
The break-in at Doncic’s home coincided with reports from the Associated Press indicating that he would be sidelined for around a month due to a calf injury sustained during a Christmas Day game against the Timberwolves. Sources mentioned that Doncic had undergone an MRI on his strained left calf.
This prolonged absence from the court may affect Doncic’s eligibility for significant accolades, such as the MVP award, as reported by the AP. Prior to the injury on Christmas Day, he had already missed eight games, with five of those related to a sprained right wrist.
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