Well, as it seems, even for the world’s most iconic athletes, the sense of security is now falling apart. Remember when the homes of NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were flagged in security alerts last year? Reportedly, their Kansas City-area homes were broken into and burglarized. And now, it has come to light that four MLB players have also been targeted in a dangerous string of burglaries.
According to Associated Press, a 21-year-old man named Earl Henderson Riley IV was charged by Seattle authorities for a connection with a wave of robberies at the homes of many present and former professional players. One such incident was a theft at the home of Luis Castillo—the Seattle Mariners’ pitcher. And guess what?
Over $6,000 worth of Louis Vuitton bags were stolen. It didn’t end there. The next target was Julio Rodriguez. He also happens to be a Mariners player and a Dominican national. He lost more than $194,000 in luxury bags and delicate jewelry.
Another victim from MLB was Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Blake Snell. He is originally from Washington and became a victim of a burglary attempt at his home. However, thankfully, the court documents confirmed that nothing was stolen.
Hold on, there’s one more victim. Prosecutors revealed that another attempt at robbery was at the home of Edgar Martinez—the Mariners’ Hall of Famer. It’s a relief that this attempt was unsuccessful too. However, it’s growing into a threat, especially for the professional athletes.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes, and our office will continue to hold those who engage in criminal behavior accountable,” said Leesa Manion—the King County Prosecuting Attorney. And Rightfully so!
Riley is now facing multiple counts of burglary. That goes for both occupied, uninhabited homes and first-degree robbery. At present, he is in custody at King County Jail on a $1 million bail. The investigation is active as of now.
The victims, meanwhile, have been deeply disturbed by these break-ins.
MLB’s Julio Rodríguez opens up about the robbery that left him and his family shaken
On Friday night, Julio Rodriguez addressed the unfortunate burglary incident. It took a major emotional toll on him and his family.
“It’s difficult because, man, I just want to go play baseball and have everybody enjoy what I do,” he said. Well, it’s never easy to move on from something that dangerous. “To have people trying to hurt me and my family… that’s the toughest part to swallow,” Rodriguez further added.
Not only did the suspects take over the materialistic possessions of the Rodriguez family, but they also, sort of, shattered the sense of safety they felt all this while.
Around $200,000 worth of designer bags and jewelry was stolen. The documentation revealed that the officers also heard loud bangs while chasing the suspects. And according to the utility workers nearby, these bangs might have been gunshots.
Rodriguez’s statements reflected frustration and the sense of uneasiness he has been feeling. “It was a very difficult time for me and my family. It’s not a good feeling. I don’t wish that on anybody else,” he remarked.
The 24-year-old was grounded and thankful for all the love and support he received during this tough time from his fans and the Seattle Mariners. However, the trauma might not go away that easily. This incident was simply horrific.
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