FBI launches crackdown on burglary ring targeting US athletes' homes
According to an FBI statement, the burglaries have been orchestrated by members of South American Theft Groups (SATGs).
"The investigations began after a series of home burglaries in which SATG suspects allegedly monitored professional athletes travel schedules to identify when their properties would be unoccupied," the FBI said.
"The FBI believes athletes may have been targeted due to their publicly available schedules, making their properties more vulnerable."
The agency said it has arrested two men accused of running an East Coast operation to resell stolen goods, and that a federal grand jury in Cincinnati indicted three defendants believed to be operating as part of the group.
The three defendants, who were charged with transporting stolen goods interstate and falsifying records in a federal investigation, allegedly committed a burglary at the home of an NFL player last year, the FBI said.
The announcement of the crackdown came two days ahead of the NFL Super Bowl, when the defending champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, are due to play the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
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Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I was watering plants in the front garden when a serial killer abducted me at 15, I was kept in a plastic box
CLOSE CALL I was watering plants in the front garden when a serial killer abducted me at 15, I was kept in a plastic box WHEN KARA Chamberlain-Robinson chose to help a friend by watering the flowers in her front garden, she had no idea of the horror that would ensue. Kara would soon find herself strapped to the bed with an unknown serial killer thanks to her good deed. Advertisement 4 Kara Robinson was abducted 23 years ago by a serial killer Credit: Instagram 4 Kara pictured as a young teen before her kidnapping Credit: Instagram 4 Robert Evonitz had already murdered three other young girls before Kara Credit: FBI She was just 15 at the time, and had spent the night at her friend's house when she decided to wake up early and help with some chores. That's when she noticed a white car pull up and a well-dressed man walking over to her. It was June 2002 in South Carolina, when Robert Evonitz approached her, claiming to be selling magazines. He asked if her parents were home, and Kara said it wasn't her house but her friend's mum was inside working. Advertisement Robert approached her, saying he would give her the magazines but as he stepped closer she noticed a pistol gun in his right hand that he held to her neck. She recalled: "He told me if I screamed, he would shoot me. "I was in disbelief, I couldn't really believe it." Kara assumed people would see what was happening as she was on a neighbourhood street and made her way to his car. Advertisement Inside, a large plastic container covered the back seats and he ordered her to get inside. From that point on, Kara repeated one thing to herself 'gather information, wait for him to be complacent, escape.' The Dull Truth About Serial Killers She attempted to pay attention to each turn he made, but once they got on the motorway, she realised there was no point in keeping track. Robert then drove off the motorway, pulling up at a secluded spot where he bound Kara's wrists, gagged her and placed the lid on the container she was squeezed into. Advertisement It was the absolute worst feeling knowing that I'm in this container, this close to people and they have no idea that I'm here. Kara Robinson-Chamberlain "It was like a supernatural calm came over me and I was able to keep a level head," she says when recalling the kidnapping on I Survived. "He wanted my fear and he wanted me to cry and he wanted me to yell and scream. And I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction." Kara remembers that he began to drive again, stopping after 20 minutes and carrying the container, which she was trapped in, inside his flat. "I could hear people like the sounds of people, cars, people talking. I could hear that outside of the container," she explained. Advertisement "And it was the absolute worst feeling knowing that I'm in this container, this close to people and they have no idea that I'm here." 4 Kara took note of her surroundings, hoping she'd escape and catch Robert Credit: Instagram HOUSE OF HORRORS Once inside with the door locked, Robert lifted the lid of the container and untied Kara before taking her to his bedroom which was filled with S&M equipment and paraphernalia. On the way, Kara did everything she could to memorise every detail of what she saw, from the magnets on his fridge to the caged animals he owned. Advertisement Kara even disarmed him by offering to clean his flat, but it didn't work. Instead, he ordered her to remove her clothes and to take a shower, then he sexually assaulted her. With a gun next to the bedside table, Kara had no choice but to do what he said. Robert often asked Kara why she was so calm and didn't seem upset, he even promised to let her go. Advertisement What Kara didn't know at the time was that Robert had already abducted three other girls, and killed them. As the hours passed, Kara was allowed in the bathroom and she noticed items a woman would use in there. She studied each one, realising the hairbrush was filled with red hairs that weren't from Robert, but his wife's, who was on holiday at the time. When she would call, Kara was under strict instructions to get back into the container and not say a word. Advertisement "He put me in the container again and gagged me and tied me and put the lid on. I was in there for at least 30 minutes," she said. "I began frantically sobbing at one point because I couldn't breathe. He came in there and was very angry and asked me, 'What is the problem? Why are you sobbing? I told you you can't make noise.' 'I told him it's because I couldn't breathe. So at that point, he took the gag out of my mouth and he left the top off. And he said, 'I'm going to do this, but you can't scream.' And so he went back and continued his phone conversation. 'And I didn't make a noise. And I just stayed there." Advertisement After the phone call, he made Kara take Valium and cannabis with him before tying her to the bed by her legs and arms. He fell asleep beside her. THE ESCAPE Miraculously, Kara woke up before him in the morning and she thought: "This is it. This is the only chance you're going to get." Kara worked carefully to free her wrists using her teeth to cut the ties and then was able to get her ankles free as well, all while Robert slept beside her in the same bed. She moved to the living room, where she was able to put her clothes back on and grab her bag before unbolting the two locks on the front door and running. Advertisement 'I know he has the gun right beside him, and he's going to see me running, and he's going to shoot me in the back — that's all I could think,' she told People. 'And I was like, 'You know what? It doesn't matter because I'm out, and at least someone will be able to find him.'" As she rushed out of the block of flats, she saw a white car and flagged them down. " I had handcuffs dangling from one hand and I had a leg restraint on one of my legs. I jumped out in front of the car and there were two men in it," she recalled. Advertisement "They were bewildered. They looked at me like, 'What is going on? And I said, 'I was just kidnapped. I was raped. Take me to the police station.'" Kara's mum was called and told her daughter had been found, 18 hours after the kidnapping, and quickly went to collect her. But Kara's determination to live and find Robert meant she was able to take the police back to the apartment block and find him. While there, they came across a maintenance worker for the block of flats, and she described what she saw inside, such as a woman with red hair and lots of animals. Advertisement He knew exactly which flat Kara was talking about. By the time police got there, Robert had fled, but he was caught three days later at a roadblock. Instead of being arrested, a car chase ensued and Robert decided to evade justice by killing himself with a gunshot to the head. At first, Kara was angry he wouldn't face the justice system, but after a few days realised it was better than having to re-live through what happened to her. Advertisement As police searched his apartment, they realised Kara was not the first victim. Who are the UK's worst serial killers? THE UK's most prolific serial killer was actually a doctor. Here's a rundown of the worst offenders in the UK. British GP Harold Shipman is one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history. He was found guilty of murdering 15 patients in 2000, but the Shipman Inquiry examined his crimes and identified 218 victims, 80 per cent of whom were elderly women. After his death Jonathan Balls was accused of poisoning at least 22 people between 1824 and 1845. Mary Ann Cotton is suspected of murdering up to 21 people, including husbands, lovers and children. She is Britain's most prolific female serial killer. Her crimes were committed between 1852 and 1872, and she was hanged in March 1873. Amelia Sach and Annie Walters became known as the Finchley Baby Farmers after killing at least 20 babies between 1900 and 1902. The pair became the first women to be hanged at Holloway Prison on February 3, 1903. William Burke and William Hare killed 16 people and sold their bodies. Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was found guilty in 1981 of murdering 13 women and attempting to kill seven others between 1975 and 1980. Dennis Nilsen was caged for life in 1983 after murdering up to 15 men when he picked them up from the streets. He was found guilty of six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to life in jail. Fred West was found guilty of killing 12 but it's believed he was responsible for many more deaths. SERIAL KILLER Robert had killed three other girls; Sofia Silva and sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk. The girls, who ranged in age from 12 to 16, all went missing in the mid-1990s. Richard kept newspaper clippings about their abductions in a locker in his apartment, and authorities later found both fingerprint and DNA evidence connecting him to the crimes. Advertisement There was already a reward for anyone who could find information leading to the capture or the identification of who killed these girls. Because of Kara's information that led to their killers' identity, she was awarded the £112,000 which she used to put herself through university. LIFE NOW Kara went on to become a sheriff in the police force after completing her studies, where she also met her husband, Joe Chamberlain. She has since left the force and became a public speaker as she raises her three children. Advertisement It's what made me who I am. And it led me to where I am today. Kara Robinson-Chamberlain Kara is also active on TikTok and Instagram, and hosts a podcast, Survivor's Guide to True Crime, with Kimberly Corban, who survived a sexual assault in 2006, per her website. 'I always knew that what happened to me was something that happened so that I could help other people,' Kara told People. 'I knew that if I wanted to help people, I needed to tell my story in a way that I was proud of.' "Being kidnapped is a horrible thing, but it's something that happened to me," Kara adds. Advertisement "It's what made me who I am. And it led me to where I am today. I survived because I was able to keep a calm demeanor."
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Provided I know I am on my deathbed' – Brit legend Jonathan Edwards hopes world record lasts until the day he dies
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JONATHAN EDWARDS hopes his triple jump world record remains his until the day he dies. Thirty years ago today, the Brit hopped, skipped and jumped his way to gold at the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Jonathan Edwards made triple jump history thirty years ago Credit: REUTERS 5 Edwards set a new world record at the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg Credit: REUTERS 5 Edwards shattered the previous world record with an astonishing 18.29 metres leap Credit: Rex 5 Edwards hopes his record will stand until teh day he dies Credit: PA His unprecedented mark of 18.29 metres – or 60 feet – was the best ever in history, smashing the previous best of 17.97 metres set by American Willie Banks in June 1985. It is one of the longest-standing world records in track and field for both male and female competitions. It is a moment that has withstood the test of time, proving untouchable at the next eight summer Olympics and 14 world championships. Bermudan Brian Wellman could only muster 17.62 metres as he finished second, coming 67 centimetres behind. Prior to his incredible jump, which was his second attempt of the 12-man final, he had actually gone 18.16 metres with the first, which was a world record in itself. Edwards, now 59, is the only British athlete to hold a world record in an Olympic-distance event and it is unlikely that anyone is going to surpass him any time soon. Speaking on an episode of PUMA's Go Wild podcast series, the London-born, Devon-raised ace – who became Olympic champion in Sydney 2000 – hopes the record lasts for a long, long time. Asked by former hurdling world-record holder Colin Jackson how he would feel if someone else went further, Edwards said: 'I'd be upset, for sure. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET £50 BONUS WHEN YOU JOIN 5 Jonathan Edwards' historic triple jump saw him win the 1995 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award Credit: REUTERS 'I mean, it's been so long. It's almost part of me. Athletics, in essence, is about the demonstration of human capability. And, of course, your own capability. 'The excitement of breaking a personal best is always the biggest excitement. Noah Lyles sends clear message to sprint rival Kenny Bednarek after being shoved during fiery 200m race 'And when that personal best is the best there has ever been, it's a remarkable thing. It's a mindblowing thing. 'So, for that to go and not to be the world-record holder, but I don't think that will be easy. "I'd hoped it would get to 30 years. 'It's more than I could ever hope to achieve in sport. 'I'll be fine, I'll be fine, but yeah, it will be a sad day. I mean it would be pretty cool to be on my deathbed and still be a world-record holder. 'I'll take that. Provided I know I am on my deathbed. Just a thought, to die as world-record holder would be pretty cool.' Edwards, who describes himself as a 'late developer', famously declared 'he would never jump on a Sunday' due to his religious beliefs – though he later 'lost my faith'. He might have the world record yet the triple jump record at his secondary school is 'held by a guy called Stephen Ojomoh who went on to play rugby for England, he was like 6ft 3in when he was 13 or 14'. Jonathan Edwards In his career, he won Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth titles outdoors -- a tremendous feat. On his physical appearance as an athlete – he was nicknamed Titch for being small and slight – he said: 'There was nothing remarkable about me. 'I remember a newspaper article once. One of the journalists described me as looking more like a geography teacher than a triple jumper. 'So, there's nothing about me physically which would make you think that I was going to be a world-record holder. 'And I think all of my competitors looked at me and thought: 'God, if Edwards can do it, surely we can do it, because what's special about him?' 'When people say to me, what was it that made you so good at triple jumping? I say: 'Well, I wasn't a jumper. I was a sprinter. And I could bounce.' 'I could maintain my speed on the contacts. So my final jump in the world record was seven metres. 'So, my ability was perhaps different from everybody else's and I think that's probably why it hasn't been broken.'
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Report: Ex-Trump investigator Robert Mueller allegedly in memory-care unit
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, the man who led the Russia investigation into President Donald Trump, has reportedly lived in a memory-care facility for years. Muller, 80, served as the sixth director of the FBI from 2001 until 2013 and the special counsel overseeing the federal government's multi-year investigation into Russia's ties to the 2016 Trump campaign. The probe found that neither Trump nor members of his campaign team coordinated with the Russians on their interference. It did not conclude whether Trump obstructed the investigation, citing DOJ policy not to indict sitting presidents. Mueller's investigation dominated years of news coverage, and Trump frequently lashed out at the special counsel and his efforts, repeatedly labeling the effort as a 'witch hunt' and 'Russia hoax.' Now, just a few years after the bombshell report was released, Mueller is spending time in a memory-care unit, sources familiar with the matter told Real Clear Investigations. 'Sources tell me Mueller has been living in a memory-care facility for the past few years,' reporter Paul Sperry wrote on X Tuesday. The news comes as Mueller is scheduled to sit with the House Oversight Committee investigators regarding the FBI's work relating to Jeffrey Epstein next month. 'It was clear this is where things were heading when we questioned him before Congress,' ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., posted on social media. 'Mueller was used by some very vicious people,' Gaetz, now a conservative TV host, continued. 'I'm not sure he really ever knew what was happening in the investigation.' Mueller testified before Congress about his report's findings in the summer of 2019. During that hearing, the former special counsel struggled at times to remember the questions from lawmakers, often asking them to repeat their inquiries. He also appeared flustered at times when trying to remember key portions of his probe. During his testimony, he forgot that Fusion GPS, an opposition research firm, was behind the infamous Steele Dossier — a file that alleged false ties between Trump and the Russians that many presume was the origin of the Trump-Russia allegations. A spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment on whether they sent Mueller's subpoena to a memory-care unit. Still, the committee's chairman, James Comer, R-Ky., says he is expecting Mueller to show up and talk. Comer posted on his X on Tuesday that Mueller is scheduled to appear for a transcribed interview with the committee on September 2. Other top Trump and Obama administration officials will also testify in the committee's probe into Epstein. Bill and Hillary Clinton are both scheduled to sit with the committee in October. Former Attorneys General Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Merrick Garland, and Trump's former DOJ boss Bill Barr are also expected to talk to the lawmakers. It's a spectacular move by Republicans to pressure Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi to put out more documents related to the disgraced financier while the administration has been embroiled in controversy over 'cover-up' claims. Bondi has been blamed by both Democrats and Republicans for stalling the release of the files. The Trump administration has since hurried to find out more about the Epstein scandal. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has met with Epstein's accomplice and longtime partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, to speak about what she knows about the late pedophile's crimes. Blanche spent several days in Florida at the detention facility where Maxwell was staying to interview the woman who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking crimes. She has repeatedly claimed she was treated wrongly during her trial, a claim that will soon be argued before the Supreme Court. Days after her meetings with Blanche, Maxwell was moved to a lower security detention center.
