Train Heists in the Southwest: A Growing Concern for Railroads
LOS ANGELES — A series of train thefts in California and Arizona has raised alarms among law enforcement and railway officials. Criminals have targeted freight trains, making off with over $2 million worth of Nike sneakers, including exclusive models not yet available to the public.
On January 13 in Perrin, Arizona, thieves cut the air brake hose of a BNSF freight train, stealing more than 1,900 pairs of Nike shoes valued at over $440,000. The stolen sneakers included the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4, which is set to hit retail shelves on March 14 for a price of $225, according to a federal complaint filed in Phoenix.
Authorities are currently investigating at least ten incidents involving BNSF trains in the Mojave Desert area since last March. Out of these, nine resulted in the theft of Nike footwear.
Eleven suspects involved in the January 13 robbery have pleaded not guilty and are being held until their trial. Arizona magistrates determined that the suspects pose a flight risk. Ten of the accused are Mexican nationals residing in the U.S. without legal authorization, while one has an ongoing asylum process.
Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk’s CargoNet, explained that these thieves often scope out cargo loads along rail lines parallel to Interstate 40. They tend to strike when trains slow down for track switches, allowing them to break into containers. In some cases, it appears that they may receive inside information about specific shipments.
The criminals often have accomplices trailing the trains in “follow vehicles” who help to collect the stolen goods. They toss the loot out of the train once it stops, whether due to a scheduled halt or because of tampered brakes, as noted by Brynna Cooke, a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security.
Railroad thefts cost the country’s top six freight companies over $100 million last year, factoring in both the value of the stolen items and repair costs. The frequency of these incidents has surged in recent years, prompting concerns about more organized and sophisticated criminal operations.
The Association of American Railroads estimates that theft incidents increased about 40% last year, reaching 65,000 cases nationally. While railroads have poured millions into protective measures, the sprawling nature of the rail network—comprising over 225,300 miles—makes security difficult.
Rail industry leaders are calling for stronger federal law enforcement and harsher penalties to deter these crimes, which they describe as a persistent issue. They report that only one in ten theft attempts leads to an arrest, and many of those arrested tend to be repeat offenders. In an alarming event, one railroad reported arresting the same individual five times in a single day.
BNSF and Union Pacific, two major freight rail companies operating in the western U.S., did not provide immediate comments on the situation. However, BNSF stated that its internal police share information with local law enforcement and prosecutors as necessary. The company also reported that their policy is to avoid direct confrontation with thieves during incidents, citing the lengthy nature of freight trains and the precautions taken by the criminals to evade capture.
In an example of ongoing efforts to combat these crimes, some of the suspects in the January theft were eventually caught thanks to tracking devices placed inside the stolen boxes. Moreover, another incident saw a BNSF train make an emergency stop in Hackberry, Arizona, which led authorities to recover about 180 pairs of Air Jordan 11 Retro Legend Blue sneakers valued at $41,400 that had not been released to the public.
Overall, freight theft remains a growing challenge for the industry, highlighting the need for improved security practices and law enforcement strategies to protect against these brazen criminal activities.
