Freight Trains Being Openly Looted as They Pass Through LA; Police Frustrated with What's Happening to Captured Suspects
For the Union Pacific Railroad, LA now stands for “Loot Away.”
In an escalation of brazen train robberies the James Gang would envy, container trains passing through Los Angeles are being pilfered, with discarded UPS and Amazon boxes littering the tracks in one part of Los Angeles, according to KTLA-TV.
Rail thefts have increased 160 percent in Los Angeles County over the past year, and railroad officials say they believe there is a strong connection between the thefts and LA County District Attorney George Gascón’s policy of not prosecuting low-level crimes.
Missing a package? Shipment delayed? Maybe your package is among the thousands we found discarded along the tracks. This is but one area thieves have targeted trains. We were told this area was just cleaned up 30 days ago so what you see is all within the last month. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/43002DPyZa
— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022
“While rail theft is a national issue…it’s a state issue here in California. … The difference is how the criminal justice system and how local law enforcement hold these criminals accountable with legal consequences, and that is not the case in LA County,” Adrian Guerrero, Union Pacific’s director of public affairs for California, said, according to Fox News.
Union Pacific has increased its enforcement to stop package thefts.
“Union Pacific is very concerned about the increased cargo thefts in California, and we have taken several steps to address this criminal activity,” the company said in a statement. “These rail crimes pose a serious safety threat to the public, our employees and local law enforcement officers.”
The railroad said about 100 people were arrested for vandalizing trains last year during the holiday season.
As you can see, trains frequently slow or stop in this area as they get worked into the @UnionPacific Intermodal facility near Downtown LA. The thieves use this opportunity to break open containers and take what’s inside. I’d say every 4th or 5th rail car had opened containers. pic.twitter.com/PHpujyB84M
— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022
Keep hearing of train burglaries in LA on the scanner so went to #LincolnHeights to see it all. And… there’s looted packages as far as the eye can see. Amazon packages, @UPS boxes, unused Covid tests, fishing lures, epi pens. Cargo containers left busted open on trains. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/JvNF4UVy2K
— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022
Guerrero said lack of action concerning the continued thefts is “incredibly disappointing and frustrating.”
“But that’s the reality of what Union Pacific has been facing over the past year, and it’s helping us shine a light on this issue. I think it’s a call to action for a number of stakeholders involved in this issue because…there are a number of folks being impacted by this,” he told Fox News.
In December 2021, Guerrero wrote Gascón to seek help.
“In several months during that period, the increase from the previous year surpassed 200%. In October 2021 alone, the increase was 356% over compared to October 2020,” the letter said. “Not only do these dramatic increases represent retail product thefts – they include increased assaults and armed robberies of UP employees performing their duties moving trains.”
Letter from @UnionPacific to @LADAOffice on rise in train robberies. 90 containers breached a day, theft up 356% says UP. UP considering rerouting it’s trains out of LA county. UP asks DA to be harder on theives. Says they’re back out on the tracks a day after released. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/SRNFYkPtiq
— Kristine Lazar (@CBSLAKristine) January 14, 2022
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