Spanish police said on Wednesday they caught a burglary gang that preyed on luxury properties in Madrid, including the homes of at least two top La Liga players.
Six suspects were arrested over the burglaries of eight houses since July 2022.
Two of the homes were those of Real Madrid’s Brazil winger Rodrygo and Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, who plays for the rival Madrid team Rayo Vallecano.
Police sources refused to say if any other footballers were affected.
The burglars would check social media accounts to study photographs and videos of the footballers in their homes in order to scope out the scene.
The suspects were arrested on eight charges of robbery with force, one of robbery with violence or intimidation, falsifying documents, and money laundering, in addition to others.
An incident that tipped off police took place in May 2023 in the suburb of Acobendas with a theft primarily involving luxury watches and jewelry, some worth 500,000 euros ($550,000).
Police seized 10 luxury watches, jewels, and more than 3,300 euros in cash, as well as two air pistols.
