NFL issues security warning to players about 'organized and skilled' criminals targeting their homes



The NFL's security team told its players that thieves are looking to exploit their team schedules and target athletes' homes on game days.

After Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was burglarized and tight end Travis Kelce was robbed of $20,000, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been looking into the string of robberies that are allegedly connected to a crime syndicate in South America.

Reporter Diana Russini has since revealed that the NFL told players to be aware that their homes were being targeted on days the criminals might suspect the players are absent.

"The homes of professional athletes across multiple sports leagues have become increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups," the memo posted on X stated. "Law enforcement officials have noted these groups appear to exploit team schedules to target athletes' homes on game days."

'Do not post public images of expensive items.'

The memo also stated that burglary groups appear to have been gathering information from a combination of public records, media reports, and social media posts.

As such, the league advised players against making any social media "check-ins" about their daily activities or whereabouts.

"Do not post public images of expensive items (e.g., jewelry, vehicles, or clothing) on social media accounts. Do not post images of or comments about your residence or hotel accommodations," the memo continued.

The NFL said the thieves have been essentially performing disguised heists, often conducting extensive surveillance on targets, their residences, and even their security measures. Then, the purported burglars are posing as delivery men, grounds maintenance, or even joggers in the neighborhood.

Side doors, balconies, and second-floor windows have been used to gain entry to houses, with patio furniture or ladders sometimes used to scale walls.

In terms of what has been taken from the athletes, NFL officials said that master bedrooms have been the predominant targets where the thieves look for jewelry, handbags, cash, and watches. Of course, safes have been a popular target, as well.

The NFL Network previously reported that the robberies are in connection with a "transnational crime ring" that has focused on NBA and NFL players "all over the country."

A former FBI agent told ABC News that athletes are easily targeted due to the plethora of public information regarding their whereabouts.

"Their schedules were going to be published when they're going to play a game, so it makes it easy when to go to the house," said former agent Brad Garrett. "These high-profile folks are really ripe targets."

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Homeowner fatally shoots decorated off-duty cop who reportedly broke into residence at 5 a.m.



A Georgia homeowner fatally shot a decorated, off-duty Atlanta police officer who reportedly broke into a neighboring residence at 5 a.m. Friday — and authorities are calling the shooting self-defense.

Atlanta police identified the officer as Investigator Aubree Horton, WAGA-TV reported.

'I've lived here for five years, and I can promise you, this isn't something you expect to see here.'

Horton was selected as Investigator of the Year at the Atlanta Police Foundation's 20th Annual "Crime is Toast" Awards on Sept. 24.

The incident occurred at a home on Orkney Way near East Carroll Road in the St. Andrews Country Club neighborhood, WAGA said.

Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds told the station that deputies responded to a burglary call at the scene of the shooting.

"On an attempted burglary, we understand that an individual attempted to gain entry into the residence," the sheriff told WAGA. "Once inside, the homeowner produced a firearm in self-defense and shot the individual." Pounds said the individual in question died.

The deadly shooting shocked neighbors, the station said.

"I've lived here for five years, and I can promise you, this isn't something you expect to see here," resident Milton Johnston told WAGA.

Authorities told the station that Horton also lived in the neighborhood — about a half-mile from the scene — and may have been experiencing a mental health episode or under the influence of narcotics.

"We believe the burglar lived in the neighborhood," Pounds noted to WAGA. "This is an active investigation, and there are many details we're still working to uncover."

Atlanta police confirmed in a statement that Horton — who had been with the department since November 2015 and most recently was assigned to the Fugitive Unit — was off duty at the time of the incident, the station said.

"We are working closely with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office to learn more about what occurred as they continue to investigate," the police department's statement read, according to WAGA.

You can view video reports here and here, about the incident.

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Burglars enter home near Lake of the Ozarks, and resident opens fire. One crook escapes in car. The other one? Not so much.



A Missouri resident called 911 around 3 a.m. Wednesday to report a burglary in progress, the Camden County Sheriff's Office said.

The residence in question reportedly is on North Highway 7 in Camdenton, a city that sits next to Lake of the Ozarks and about 150 miles southeast of Kansas City.

'Try that in a small town!'

The resident added to officials that he or she shot one of the burglars while the other one drove north in a dark-colored vehicle, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies responded to the residence where medical personnel provided emergency care to the suspect, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies and detectives were actively working the crime scene, the sheriff's office said, adding that officials don't believe there's a current active threat to the public.

How are people reacting?

As you might guess, commenters on the sheriff's office Facebook page about the incident were not too sympathetic to the individual who was fatally shot:

  • "The Ozarks is the wrong place to 'find out' or 'win a prize,'" one commenter wrote.
  • "'Try that in a small town!'" another commenter said.
  • "If [you're] not invited, nobody makes it out alive! Locked, loaded to aim and fire," another user declared. "All of us here in our small town protects each other and our neighbors before calling 911…"
  • "Hopefully this is a HUGE wake up call to the one who got away. Your partner definitely didn't, rightfully! To the homeowner, way to protect your own!" another commenter noted. "Praying for the family as I'm sure there's trauma now there that they'll have to sort through for the rest of their days."
  • "Well, I mean you come into someone else’s home, their safe space, you ask for it," another user said. "Well done protecting your family."
  • "These comments alone should show anyone else even considering ... break[ing] and enter[ing] that this area isn’t the place if you want to make it out alive," another user warned.

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Group of migrants busted for looting Tennessee homes devastated by hurricane: Sheriff



Tennessee authorities recently arrested eight migrant workers after they were allegedly caught looting homes in Washington County that were devastated by Hurricane Helene.

According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, five of the men — Albin Nahun Vega-Rapalo, 24; David Bairon Rapalo-Rapalo, 37; Kevin Noe Martinez-Lopez, 25; Marvin Hernandez-Martinez, 43; and Dayln Gabriel Guillen Guillen, 37 — were charged with aggravated burglary for allegedly breaking into occupied structures.

'We have been through way too much for this kind of behavior.'

Three of the men — Jesus Leodan Garcia-Peneda, 51, Josue Berardo Ortis-Valdez, 30, and Ersy Leonel Ortis-Valdez, 33 — were slapped with burglary charges, the sheriff's office reported.

Sheriff Keith Sexton stated that the men were arrested on Saturday and remain at the Washington County Detention Center on $20,000 bonds. They were slated to make their first court appearance on Monday.

"Washington County Sheriff's Deputies continue to patrol our region during the catastrophic flooding, especially along the flood zone," the department said in a post on Facebook.

A spokesperson for the sheriff's office told Fox News Digital that the men are migrant workers who are legally in the United States on work visas.

However, the spokesperson told the news outlet, "That will change as a result of the charges."

"We have been through way too much for this kind of behavior," the spokesperson added.

The sheriff's office told Fox News Digital that the three men charged with burglary were caught looting unoccupied homes and structures "that were barely still standing."

Anything else?

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition stated, "TIRRC staff members who deployed to the area witnessed community members struggling to access interpretation services from local and state government agencies, as well as requests by agencies for identification and documentation from immigrant community families that hindered their ability to identify missing loved ones."

According to recent reports, Hurricane Helene's devastation has resulted in the death of more than 160 people in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee — making it the second deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. in the last 55 years. Hundreds of individuals are still missing, and the storm's death toll is expected to increase as first responders continue to search the debris. More than a million individuals remain without power.

Over 100 people needed to be rescued in the northeastern part of Tennessee. While others remain missing, nine individuals have been confirmed dead in the state.

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Homeowner opens fire on crooks who broke into his garage in middle of night to steal motorcycles, cops say



A South Carolina homeowner opened fire on suspected burglars who broke into his garage in the middle of the night last week to steal motorcycles, police said.

Horry County police were called just before 4 a.m. Friday to a home off Green Sea Road in Green Sea for a burglary, WMBF-TV reported.

The third suspect hasn’t been identified, the station said.

The suspects and a third unnamed suspect broke into the homeowner’s garage in an attempt to steal his motorcycles, the station said, citing a police report.

But the homeowner got a notification on his phone about detected movement, and so he got up, caught the suspects in his garage, and opened fire, WMBF said, adding that the suspects took off.

A dog team caught Roderick Bell and Dimitrious Murray after they abandoned their vehicle on St. Joseph Drive and ran away, the station said, adding that they both face burglary charges. They're both 27 years old, according to jail information, and they were still incarcerated Thursday morning.

Murray was shot in his right shoulder during the incident, WMBF reported.

The third suspect hasn’t been identified, the station said.

How are observers reacting?

As you might imagine, commenters on WMBF's Facebook page entry about the incident are decidedly in the homeowner's corner:

  • "Good," one commenter wrote. "They got what they deserved. The homeowner should get an award."
  • "Justified," another user concurred. "You can't count on the justice system to lock them up for long enough; they just repeat offend so sometimes you just have to take it into your own hands and defend you life and property."
  • "They ought to consider themselves lucky they got to ride with the police instead of the coroner," another commenter opined.
  • "Good!" another user declared. "If you're big enough to enter someone's property with ill-intent, you better be ready to face what's in there."

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Trump Camp Headquarters Burglarized, Suspect Caught On Video

'It is rare to have the office of any political campaign or party broken into,' Sheriff Mike Chapman said

Man says he shot burglar who broke through window of home in middle of night. Alleged burglar doesn't survive.



A man told police he shot a burglar who broke through a window of a Tampa, Florida, home in the middle of the night over the weekend, and the alleged burglar was found dead.

Tampa police said officers responded to the Palmetto Beach Community for a reported burglary around 4:19 a.m. Saturday, WTVT-TV reported.

The man who fired the shot stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, police added to the station.

Police said when they arrived at the home in the 1300 block of South Bermuda Boulevard, a man at the home said he shot an intruder who broke in through a window, the station noted.

Investigators said officers found a male in his early 40s suffering from a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead, WTVT reported.

The man who fired the shot stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, police added to the station. There is no threat to the public, police noted to WTVT.

How are observers reacting?

Commenters underneath the station's Facebook post about the incident appeared decidedly behind the man who pulled the trigger:

  • "Standing your ground against somebody who wants to harm you and saving the taxpayers money — good job!!" one commenter wrote. "Essentially you saved other people's lives because he can’t do it again."
  • "Actions have consequences. I guess the intruder found that out for himself," another user said.
  • "I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to f*** around and find out in Florida," another commenter declared. "We keep more than pistols around here. All legal; all handled properly; all for our protection. One under the pillow, too."
  • "Let that be a lesson learned for others; you intrude, you leave in a body bag — period," another user warned.
  • "The homeowner had every right to," another commenter said. "Break into my house, and you will meet your maker lickity split."
  • "When are these criminals gonna realize that people go to bed with a gun under their pillow?" another user wondered.

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Model Angie Harmon's 18-year-old daughter, Avery Sehorn, arrested on felony charges



Avery Sehorn, daughter of actress and model Angie Harmon, was arrested on felony charges.

Sehorn was arrested on June 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The daughter of the renowned model was charged with felony burglary and larceny, according to Fox News.

Around 11:30 p.m., Sehorn and two 17-year-old boys reportedly broke into the World Night Club on Music Factory through a back door.

One of the club's owners told WCCB that the teens hid behind the bar and drank liquor belonging to the nightclub. The owner claimed a cleaning crew caught the trespassers. He added that the trio ran off, but were caught by police shortly after.

The trio are accused of stealing six bottles of liquor worth $500, according to the arrest warrant.

Avery Sehorn is the daughter of Harmon and former NFL star Jason Sehorn. The couple divorced in 2015 and have two other daughters, Finley, 20, and Emery, 15.

Harmon – best known for her roles in "Law & Order" and "Rizzoli & Isles" – had congratulated Sehorn days before her arrest for graduating high school at the Charlotte Christian School – a private, college preparatory, non-denominational Christian school.

Harmon wrote in a June 2 Instagram post, "We are all immensely proud of you Avery! You have overcome & conquered & excelled to shine brightly with the stars! Remember to leave every place better than you found it & we are all so excited to see what God has planned for you!"

Harmon made headlines earlier this year when she accused a grocery delivery person of fatally shooting her dog.

As Blaze News reported in April, Harmon claimed that an Instacart delivery driver shot and killed the family dog named Oliver.

"This Easter weekend a man delivering groceries for Instacart shot & killed our precious Oliver. He got out of his car, delivered the food & THEN shot our dog. Our ring camera was charging in the house, which he saw & then knew he wasn't being recorded. The police let him go b/c he claimed 'self defense.' He did not have a scratch or bite on him nor were his pants torn," Harmon wrote in an Instagram post.

The celebrity actress filed a lawsuit against the driver and Instacart in a North Carolina court. She alleges negligence, trespass, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of harm. Harmon is seeking a trial by jury and monetary damages exceeding $25,000, according to court documents.

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Serial burglar picks wrong residence to rip off, pays painfully when gun-toting homeowner shows up



A homeowner in St. Louis County shot an intruder last week, which led to the suspect's arrest and hospitalization.

Officers were called around 4 a.m. last Tuesday to the 2200 block of Empress Drive over a reported burglary, KDSK-TV said, citing the St. Louis County Police Department. The suspect had unlawfully entered the home and tried to steal property by throwing it out a window, but the homeowner shot the suspect, the station said, citing a probable cause statement.

Local attorney Anders Walker told the station that the homeowner probably had a legal right to open fire: 'In your home, all you need is a reasonable fear that you might get hurt.'

The suspect then ran from the home and past responding officers, who were ordering him to stop and telling him he was being placed under arrest, police told KDSK. A K-9 was used to search the area, the station added, and police arrested the suspect near Chambers Road and Monarch Drive. The suspect was taken to a hospital in critical condition, KDSK said, adding that he was still hospitalized later that same day.

Who is the suspect?

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged 27-year-old Andre Farrar III with first-degree burglary, first-degree attempted burglary, and resisting arrest with a felony, the station said, adding that he was being held on a $200,000 cash-only bond.

Court documents said Farrar tried to enter a home in the 10200 block of Pannell Drive a few hours before the burglary on Empress Drive, KDSK said, adding that police said Farrar has prior burglary convictions in St. Louis.

What did a local attorney say about the shooting?

Local attorney Anders Walker told the station that the homeowner probably had a legal right to open fire: "In your home, all you need is a reasonable fear that you might get hurt."

A man and woman who live in the home were inside the residence at the time of the reported burglary, Lt. Craig Higginbotham of the St. Louis County Police Department told KDSK. The residents were taken to the police station to speak with officers, the station added.

KDSK also reported that investigators went door to door in the area to see if any neighbors had security cameras that might have recorded parts of the incident. Police added to the station that those with information about what happened can call 636-529-8210 or leave an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.

Homeowner shoots intruder in north St. Louis County youtu.be

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Minnesota Democrats' Senate Majority in Peril After Lawmaker Arrested for Burglary

Democratic state senator Nicole Mitchell (Minn.) was arrested on Monday and charged with first-degree burglary, jeopardizing Democrats’ one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate. 

The post Minnesota Democrats' Senate Majority in Peril After Lawmaker Arrested for Burglary appeared first on Washington Free Beacon.