Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin’s home was broken into last weekend, the latest in a series of thefts at the homes of professional athletes.
The Penguins confirmed Malkin’s home was burglarized, saying in a statement to WPXI-TV Tuesday evening that they were working with local authorities and team security. Malkin’s home is in Sewickley, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
According to KDKA-TV, Malkin’s home was broken into Saturday – the same day the Penguins hosted the Ottawa Senators – with a 911 call occurring just hours after the 4 p.m. puck drop. Malkin missed the 5-0 loss with an upper-body injury and was placed on injured reserve Sunday. He returned from a four-game absence Tuesday night and had an assist in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Malkin spoke after the game but did not mention the incident.
The KDKA report, which cites multiple sources, states that Malkin’s three Stanley Cup rings were missing and that at the time of the theft, his home’s security system was down and his safe was left unlocked.
The Penguins, in the statement released to WPXI, said that “Malkin has asked that his privacy be respected during this time.” The team said it would have no further comment.
The homes of several athletes have been targeted in recent months, including those of NFL stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow; NBA counterparts Luka Doncic, Bobby Portis and Mike Conley; and NHL player Tyler Seguin.
The FBI has warned sports leagues about criminal organizations targeting professional athletes, it said in a liaison briefing obtained by ABC News late last month. Athletes’ homes are targeted because they appear to contain high-end goods, such as designer handbags, jewelry, watches and cash, the FBI said in the report.
The NFL and NBA also issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins, some of which occurred while the players were away with their teams for away games. The NFL alert says the homes of professional athletes in several sports have become “increasingly the target of burglaries perpetrated by organized and skilled groups.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
