The NBA, among other American professional sports leagues, issued a warning this week to its players, notifying them of a potential threat involving a South American theft group.

The NBA warned players to safeguard valuables against "well-organized, sophisticated" transnational crime rings, according to a memo obtained by NBC News on Friday, matching a similar caution issued earlier this week by the NFL.

The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.