Luka Dončić, the renowned Dallas Mavericks guard, recently fell victim to a disturbingly common trend among affluent professional athletes as his home was burglarized. The incident took place on a Friday night, as confirmed by Dončić’s business manager, Lara Beth Seager. Fortunately, neither Dončić nor his family were present at the time of the break-in, ensuring their safety. Seager stated, “No one was home at the time, and thankfully Luka and his family are safe.” Dončić wasted no time in reporting the incident to the authorities, with a police investigation now in progress.
According to details from the Dallas Morning News, the burglary resulted in the theft of approximately $30,000 worth of jewelry from Dončić’s residence. The police report indicated that the perpetrator gained access by breaking the master bathroom window between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. It is worth noting that private security personnel were monitoring the premises during the time of the incident.
Despite the unsettling intrusion, the Dallas Mavericks pushed forward with their schedule, embarking on a four-game road trip that commenced with a hard-fought 98–89 victory over the Phoenix Suns. The game was not without its share of drama, as a scuffle erupted leading to three ejections. The team is set to play three more away matches from December 28th to January 1st.
Dončić’s absence from the court during the game against the Phoenix Suns was due to a left calf injury sustained in the team’s previous match, a 105–99 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The five-time All-Star is anticipated to be sidelined for a minimum of one month as he recuperates from the injury.
In a bid to address the alarming surge in burglaries targeting professional athletes, the NBA issued a cautionary advisory to its players back in November. The advisory was prompted by break-ins at the residences of Bobby Portis from the Milwaukee Bucks and Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Notably, the FBI linked these incidents, along with similar occurrences involving NFL stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Joe Burrow, to “transnational South American theft groups.”
The league’s memorandum highlighted the well-organized and sophisticated nature of these criminal rings, which employ advanced tactics such as pre-surveillance, drones, and signal-jamming devices. The theft groups primarily target cash and easily sellable items like jewelry, watches, and luxury bags for illicit resale on the black market. This warning from the NBA was preceded by a security alert from the NFL following an incident where Kelce reportedly had $20,000 stolen from his home.
The prevalent security threats faced by high-profile sports figures serve as a stark reminder of the need for increased vigilance and robust security measures. The incidents involving Dončić and other athletes underscore the importance of taking proactive steps to safeguard personal well-being and property in an environment where such.
