Smart home integrators who work with professional athletes will likely be receiving requests to upgrade home security systems after a rash of home burglaries by what appears to be a sophisticated group or criminals who target well-known athlete’s homes when they’re away or actively playing in a game.
Over the last few months, the homes of some of sports’ most famous stars have been robbed, including the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the latter of whom is of course dating larger-than-life celebrity Taylor Swift. Other athletes reporting home break ins include Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, and several NBA players including Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks and Karl Anthony-Towns, a New York Knicks player who was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves at the time of the robbery.
The incidents have led the NFL, NBA and NHL to issue memos to teams, instructing players to improve their home security measures, especially when they’re away or during games when players are unable to have their phones and receive security notifications. The memos also urged athletes to install upgraded home security systems in addition to utilizing guards.
According to the New York Times, memos from the NBA and NFL have said that the FBI is involved in the investigations. Many of the burglaries have been connected the incidents to transitional South American Theft Groups that are described as “well-organized, sophisticated rings.”
The groups target cash and valuable items that can be resold on the black market. The athletes impacted that we know about are quite famous and are highly paid, making themselves high-value targets for criminals.
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
These incidents are ongoing investigations, and due to privacy and security issues, not much is known about the security systems at these homes. Athletes also value their private lives, and most aren’t saying much about the robberies.
The Times reported, citing the NBA memo, that most home alarm systems at the burglarized homes were not activated, and most were unoccupied. According to reports, the criminals are using advanced techniques and technologies, pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices intended to disable home security systems and camera feeds.
Many home security systems and cameras rely on Wi-Fi, making it possible for thieves to use signal jammers to disrupt the communication between security devices and the network, essentially rendering them useless when the jamming device is in range.
In at least some of these cases, criminals only targeted one room by breaking windows at the back of the house or entering through sliding doors.
Little is known about the security systems at these athletes’ homes, but Portis of the NBA’s Bucks posted a surveillance video clip to his Instagram page, asking for help in identifying the criminals.
Aaron Rodgers, an NFL quarterback for the New York Jets, recently commented on these to several media outlets, saying he has hired security and improved his surveillance system since his address was published.
Rodgers, speaking to reporters this week, said the NFL offers its security experts to home to players’ homes to help them improve their security systems, including advice on where to put cameras and how to address vulnerabilities.
Custom home integrators in the CEDIA channel who work with figures as high-profile as professional athletes would likely never recommend Wi-Fi-based security systems since they are vulnerable to signal jammers and network outages. This gives integrators the opportunity to position themselves as trusted security partners with advanced knowledge of home security.
That’s why Wi-Fi-based home security systems are not the most secure option. In fact, the Los Angeles Police Department in March warned homeowners about jamming devices and urged homeowners to switch to hardwired security systems.
Integrators can offer technologies such as hardwired IP cameras, closed security systems, NVRs, AI-enabled detections, and other robust solutions that are resistant to tampering and are more reliable than many DIY systems.
This also presents integrators with an opportunity to educate their clients on the recent advancements made in home security systems.
The post 2024 Lighting Controls and Fixtures Report appeared first on CEPRO.