Police say thieves broke into NFL player's car, stole team-issued tablet

ATLANTA — Atlanta police are searching for a group of thieves who they say broke into an NFL player's SUV and stole his team-issued tablet and passport, among other things.

Channel 2's Michael Seiden spoke to police, who said a group of men broke into Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Peyton Barber's SUV around 5 a.m. Saturday.

The incident happened outside of the Post Alexander high-rise in Buckhead near Phipps Plaza. Police say the men stole Barber's team-issued tablet, along with his passport and other belongings.

Police said the tablet contained playbook information, but the Buccaneers told Seiden in a statement only videos were on the device.

"We were able to remotely disable the Surface tablet once we were informed. There was no playbook info on the computer, just some self scout videos, etc... nothing of much importance."

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Barber is an Alpharetta native who played football at Milton High School and Auburn University. He was visiting a friend on Friday night, police said.

When Barber got back to his Jeep Wrangler on Saturday, he noticed someone had opened one of his doors.

According to a police report, the thieves got away with designer sunglasses and clothes in addition to the tablet and passport.

Barber's vehicle was one of several the thieves hit early Saturday morning. Police said surveillance cameras outside recorded five men getting out of a car and breaking into multiple vehicles.

The break-ins left neighbors on edge.

"We were leaving the building to go to the grocery store and then we see another police officer inside the garage and we knew what it was," one neighbor said. "It's alarming. I don't know if we are going to move and find somewhere safer."

Some neighbors said they weren't surprised.

"Last week, I met a police officer that also lives here and her car had gotten broken into," one neighbor said. "So it's a little frightening."

Seiden reached out to the property's management, but hasn't heard back.

The investigation is ongoing.

Cox Media Group