Burglars who robbed Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's homes left FBI easiest clue

The FBI has cracked the case of a series of burglaries at high-profile athletes' homes, leading to the capture of a Chilean gang responsible for the thefts - all thanks to a self-incriminating photo taken by the thieves themselves.

A recently unsealed criminal complaint and an extensive 20-page document from the FBI reveal that seven individuals, all illegal immigrants, are now facing charges of conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines which could land them up to a decade in prison.

This "South American Theft Group" is accused of snatching approximately £2.3million ($3m) worth of valuables including "jewellery, expensive brand watches, United States currency, and other high-value merchandise" from NFL icons such as quarterback , tight end , and Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow.

The gang also allegedly targeted the home of Milwaukee Bucks' Bobby Portis Jr, along with properties belonging to two unnamed Memphis Grizzlies players and another from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their three-month crime wave towards the end of last year came to a halt when pictures surfaced showing several members posing with the stolen property.

In one photograph released by the authorities, three alleged criminals and another with their face blurred are seen flaunting a haul of eight luxury timepieces while standing victoriously on a broken safe.

An unnamed FBI agent's affidavit has cast new light on the methods used by law enforcement to apprehend the suspected thieves. Local authorities provided license-plate reader data that helped trace the gang member's movements, while mobile phone mast records were instrumental in placing their phones in proximity to their hired cars.

According to Cass County Sheriff's Office reports, a break-in at Mahomes' property in Belton, Missouri, was reported around midnight on October 6. In the hours following the report of this theft, another burglary occurred at Kelce's lavish residence in Leawood, Kansas, on October 7.

That same day, the Chiefs triumphed over the Saints with a score of 26-13 during 'Monday Night Football. ' Then, on December 9, Joe Burrow's home near Cincinnati was targeted while the Bengals celebrated a 27-20 victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.

The burglars made off with approximately £237,000 ($300,000) worth of luxury goods, including bespoke diamond chains, leading a dismayed Burrow, aged 28, to express to the press: "My privacy has been violated in more ways than one."

Prosecutors are suggesting that the timing of these heists was deliberately planned, accusing the culprits of strategically choosing high-profile sports figures who "were away or playing in professional games at the time of the burglaries."

This article originally appeared on