FBI warns pro sports leagues following string of burglaries targeting athletes' homes

The FBI issued a notice to sports leagues earlier this month informing teams and players of recent burglaries targeting professional athletes and advising them on how to protect themselves from future crimes, two sources confirmed to CBS News. 

The advisory — a standard warning sent by federal investigators detailing the reported robberies — said at least nine professional athletes were targeted in the rash of forced entries at their homes across the country between September and November, according to the sources. The FBI warned that the behavior, which included using publicly available information to target homes and deploying technology to bypass security systems, is consistent with past practices employed by international criminal organizations.

CBS News has previously reported  the FBI is investigating the matter and possible connections to international gangs emanating from South America. The theory is one of many being pursed by law enforcement and investigators are working to determine if the string of recent burglaries are connected and if so, who might be responsible.