Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow bravely shared how personal the effects have been after last week’s burglary at his home. He told his story on an episode of the Netflix docuseries “Quarterback,” which debuted earlier this month. During the time Burrow was playing a week 2 road game against the Dallas Cowboys, burglars hit his house. This unprovoked invasion meant devastating human losses—including emotional losses—for him. After the incident, Burrow made the choice to cancel his order on a full-size, fully-operational Batmobile.
In the third season of “Quarterback,” Burrow opened up about how the crime disrupted his personal life. He emphasized the importance of personal space, stating, “My life is very public. That comes with the job, but there’s certain parts of your life that are yours. Your house is one of those.”
Detectives are continuing to investigate the burglary at Burrow’s home. This instance is one of many in a larger, national crackdown on a string of burglaries that have victimized numerous professional athletes. On Feb. 6, a federal grand jury in Cincinnati indicted three Warehouse defendants. At the time, they were connected to dozens of other thefts, including the one involving Burrow. This investigation has traveled across eight states and resulted in six arrests. It highlights a larger, more concerted approach by South American theft syndicates to hit high-end communities across the U.S.
These human trafficking rings have targeted not just Burrow, but other high profile athletes as well. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce both experienced burglaries while they were publicly scheduled elsewhere. Many of us were horrified when NBA stars Luka Doncic and Mike Conley underwent the same crime. Doncic is now with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Conley joined the Minnesota Timberwolves.
To date, law enforcement has arrested two men who posed as “fences” since 2020. Their actions as intermediaries allowed thieves to sell their stolen goods and customers to obtain them throughout the country. Juan Villar, 48, jointly ran a pawn shop. He had pleaded guilty in June to possessing stolen property. Villar is currently awaiting sentencing.
Federal officials are starting to make big moves to put a stop to this surge in thefts. Jessica Tisch, commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, a law enforcement surrogate, called the operation “deliberate.” She delineated how it allowed for a professional burglar’s feel of targeting naive average Americans. Christopher Raia, the third official who testified for the special investigation, said something crucial. For example, he noted that Dimitriy Nezhinskiy built a robust long-term demand for stolen goods.
Nezhinskiy is now charged with multiple federal crimes and, given his non-U.S. citizenship status, is subject to deportation proceedings as well. Our current investigations are focused on shutting down these networks that have preyed on athletes and their residences.
While athletes like Burrow positively reflect on their experiences with crime, the larger implications of their exposure to such incidents echo across communities. What’s perhaps less understood is the emotional toll of having one’s home invaded. Public figures struggle with the exposure that fame entails and the repercussions that it carries.
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