NHL champion the latest victim of gang that raids athletes' homes in the United States

Evgeni Malkin, the Pittsburgh Penguins NHL player, has become the latest victim of the gang of burglars targeting athletes' homes that has been spreading panic in professional sports since mid-2022.

Malkin confirmed that they had entered his home in Sewickley Heights, Pennsylvania, and, among other items, the assailants took the three Stanley Cup championship rings. The robbery occurred on Saturday, January 11, the day the Penguins played at home against the Ottawa Senators

Malkin, the second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, has been a key player for the Penguins since 2006. He helped the team win three Stanley Cups, in 2009, 2016 and 2017. He was MVP of the 2009 playoffs.

"We are working closely with local authorities and team security," the Penguins said in a statement. Malkin has requested privacy during this time and we will not be making any further comment on the matter."

This robbery adds to those that have occurred in recent months at the homes of other professional athletes. The FBI issued a warning to sports leagues about organized groups of thieves targeting athletes' homes. The warning came after the homes of Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, as well as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, were robbed. Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks NBA player, was also broken into, as were Mike Conley and Bobby Portis of the Minnesota Timberwolves

In November, the NFL and NBA sent a memo to their teams about home security. The Associated Press obtained a copy and noted that it warned of an alleged South American gang of thieves: "The FBI has linked some burglaries to 'South American transnational theft groups' that are 'sophisticated and seemingly well-organized networks that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones and signal-jamming devices."

According to the FBI report, the thieves use Wi-Fi blockers to block connections, cover security cameras and hide their identities. They act when they know the athletes are not at home. They tend to take cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches and luxury handbags