Just this month, 11 people in Arizona were indicted by federal authorities who suspected they took part in a brazen train robbery. The suspects are reported to have been in possession of over $400,000 in stolen Nike shoes lifted from a freight train carrying them to their destination.
The groups modus operandi is to cut the air hose to the train, forcing it to stop in a location designated by the thieves. Then, their compatriots roll up on trucks, bust open the train’s cargo cars, and unload the bounty of merchandise contained therein. They then transport the goods to California and sell them online for a tidy profit.
Arizona isn’t the only state hit by train robbers. Over the course of the recent pandemic, Los Angeles County saw a 160% increase in train robberies over previous years. Between January 23rd and today, Union Pacific has spent over $30 million in an attempt to beef up security and curtail the recent spate of thefts. The investment seems to be paying off, as they announced in October of 2024 that the number of train theft arrests that lead to charges has gone up from 25% to 90%.
Thefts aren’t the only crimes on the rise on our nation’s railways. Assaults and armed robberies of Union Pacific employees have also increased substantially.
To combat the thefts, dozens of additional agents were hired to patrol the railways. Also, over 41,000 feet of barbed wire, cement barriers, and crash-proof fences were constructed to protect rail yards – especially in Los Angeles.
Aside from the monetary damages incurred by the companies operating on the railways, the businesses relying on the trains to transport their orders are also significantly impacted. Over $400,000 in Nike shoes being stolen (among other items in other robberies, such as automobile parts) likely affected multiple businesses throughout the area.
The increased railway security measures have been producing results, though the battle continues.
