BNSF tells its crews not to confront thieves when they get on board, probably because the merchandise onboard isn’t worth getting killed over. Instead, they say to report the incidents. To be fair, though, crews rarely encounter the thieves because the trains are so long. It’s hard to know what’s happening a mile from you.
In a bit of return to tradition, there were at least 65,000 railroad cargo thefts last year, accounting for a 40 percent increase over 2023, and these figures might be on the low end. Railroads don’t publish all thefts. The thefts are estimated to cost the nation’s largest rail companies over $100 million, according to the LA Times. That’s not an insignificant number, but these companies are so big they can absorb something like that.
The Los Angeles Times has details on a few more of the robberies:
In the Jan. 13 heist, stolen cases of Nikes hurled from the train were later picked up by trucks, the federal complaint states. County and state law enforcement officers were able to catch up with the vehicles with the help of tracking devices that were inside some of the boxes. Eleven people were arrested and charged with possessing or receiving goods stolen from interstate shipment.Â
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And in yet another BNSF train burglary near Yampai, Ariz., on Dec. 6, investigators recovered about $48,000 worth of then-unreleased Nike Dunk Low Midnight Navy sneakers, according to a complaint filed in the Phoenix federal court charging four people with possessing or receiving goods stolen from interstate shipment. Three have pleaded not guilty, with one set for a change of plea hearing to plead guilty, and one has yet to enter a plea, according to the case docket.
Investigators also recovered a combined total of $346,200 worth of then-unreleased Nike Air Jordans following two BNSF train burglaries in April and June, according to documents filed in Phoenix federal court.
After getting away from the train, the merry band of thieves usually transports the merch to California to be sold or offered for sale online on websites like Amazon and eBay. Both sites tell the LA Times they have a zero-tolerance policy for criminal activity on their platforms, and they’re working with law enforcement.
What’s almost impressive is the fact that the scheme is still happening despite the fact the group’s alleged ringleader, Felipe Arturo Avalos-Mejia — AKA Pollo — has been arrested. He allegedly would use scouts to help him select pick trains to target, supplied vehicles for and paid burglary crews to sell the stolen merchandise, according to a complaint filed in the Phoenix federal court.
