In brief
Oklahoma City Thunder's star player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, announced that he and his family are safe after a break-in at their home during his game against the Washington Wizards. Police reported that suspects fled the scene before their arrival, with no public threat believed to exist. Investigations continue amid rising concerns about burglaries targeting high-profile athletes.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder's All-Star player, reported on Sunday that he and his family are safe following a break-in at their Oklahoma City-area home that occurred last week while he played a home game.
During a press conference, Gilgeous-Alexander stated, Long story short, everybody’s safe, and that’s all that really matters in the whole thing. Everything else will come and go, but my loved ones are safe, so I’m OK. I'm happy.
The burglary took place on Thursday evening around 7:45 PM, just when the Thunder were facing off against the Washington Wizards at home. Nichols Hills police confirmed that they responded to a report of the incident but did not release further information over the weekend. Attempts to reach Nichols Hills Police Chief Steven Cox for comments were unsuccessful.
Authorities mentioned that the suspects fled the scene before police arrived and emphasized that there is no reason to believe the public is in any immediate danger. The investigation is ongoing and police did not disclose further details regarding whether items were stolen or if anyone was home during the break-in.
This incident follows a trend of burglaries targeting the homes of high-profile athletes across the U.S., often occurring when they are away at games. Previous victims include notable football and basketball players whose homes have been hit, further raising concerns among professional athletes about their safety during games.
As investigations continue, police have highlighted the importance of vigilance for athletes and have previously warned sports leagues about the rising issue of burglaries during game days, indicating that thieves tend to strike when players are away.
