New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s home was broken into and burglarized on Monday night. The four-time WNBA All-Star is just the latest professional athlete to be targeted in what has become a major trend. Over the last few years, the news has been littered with stories of athletes who have been attacked, stalked, robbed, and otherwise targeted by criminals. Here is a look at the latest episode.
Ionescu’s Home Targeted
On Monday night, burglars broke in through a sliding glass door at the home where Ionescu and her husband, NFL free agent offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu, reside in Los Angeles. Several luxury items were stolen, including multiple designer handbags worth more than $60,000. Ionescu and Grasu were not home at the time. Law enforcement officials are conducting an ongoing investigation. Police responded after an alarm went off at the home, and they are looking through security camera footage from all the homes in the neighborhood for leads in the case.
Rising Trend of Targeting Athletes
Ionescu’s burglary comes just one night after Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons’ home was broken into while he was playing in his team’s Sunday night matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. There has been no statement as to whether officials believe the two crimes are connected.
While these two crimes occurred across the country from each other, that does not mean that they are not connected. The FBI believes that transnational crime rings have been targeting pro athletes in recent years. Seven Chilean nationals were charged late last year in the break-ins at the homes of NFL players Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow, as well as NBA player Bobby Portis Jr.
Targeting professional athletes has become a significant trend among criminals in recent years. Their teams’ schedules are public knowledge and published well in advance of their respective seasons. Athletes’ high profile and high salaries make them prime targets for burglaries, especially. However, those are not the only crimes that athletes have had to deal with. Many fans have become obsessed with athletes, especially female ones, and that has led to episodes of stalking, assault, and even kidnapping attempts. Ionescu’s WNBA peers Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are two prime examples of this type of criminal behavior.
What Can Athletes Do to Combat This Trend?
Many pro athletes have been forced to hire security to protect themselves, their families, and their homes. They have paid for hi-tech security systems and surveillance cameras as well. The FBI has sent warnings to the NFL and NBA regarding this recent criminal trend. In those warnings, officials have delineated how criminals will do extensive surveillance of their targets in advance of their crimes. The warnings also mention how these criminal organizations often bypass alarm systems, use wi-fi jammers, conceal their identities, and cover security cameras. So far, not much has deterred these targeted attacks.
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