Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco loses $650K in jewelry stolen from vehicle

An alleged serial burglar stole more than $650,000 of jewelry from the SUV of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco when he was on a rehabilitation assignment in June, according to police and court records obtained by ESPN.

According to an arrest report, Kahlil Eugene Mathis, 24, used a wrench to break into Franco's Rolls-Royce Cullinan in a Jacksonville, Florida, hotel parking lot at 3 a.m. on June 22 and grabbed a safe that contained seven pieces of jewelry. Mathis sold some of the jewelry and police identified him through an Arizona driver's license and thumbprint he gave at a pawn shop before arresting him July 4, the report said.

As part of his recovery from a right quadriceps strain, Franco had been playing with the Triple-A Durham Bulls and was in Jacksonville when Mathis, who was wanted for three other vehicle break-ins, allegedly cased Franco's car in the parking lot of a DoubleTree hotel. According to the arrest report, Mathis took a $60 safe from the rear of the vehicle that held:

• A $300,000 gold, diamond-crusted Cuban link chain and circle medallion with diamonds and a W in the center • A $200,000 rose gold Cuban link chain with diamonds • A $70,000 gold pendant with a medallion in green and blue lettering spelling «FRANCO 5» • A $44,000 Platinum Rolex watch with diamonds • A $20,000 American League championship ring • A $20,000 championship ring from Durham • A $5,000 gold pendant of Jerry the mouse from the «Tom and Jerry» cartoon

On June 23, the report said, Mathis sold two of the items at a pawn shop about 20 miles southwest of the hotel. Following Mathis' arrest, police found the safe in the bedroom closet of an apartment about six miles from the hotel. Among the items inside were the two championship