Every day, they leave thousands of gutted boxes that never reach their destinations.
The thieves wait until the freight trains are immobilized and then climb onto the containers, whose locks are easy to break with bolt cutters.
Many major US courier and mail order companies such as Target, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS are being hit by the thefts – which have surged in recent months.
The robbers helped themselves to parcels, destroying products that are difficult to resell or move or are cheap, such as furniture, Covid-19 test kits, or medications.
Rail operator Union Pacific says that Los Angeles County has seen a 160 percent rise in thefts since December 2020.
“In October last year, the increase was 356 percent compared to the corresponding month of the previous year,” UP said.
The surge in looting has been backed by an upsurge in “armed robberies and assaults of UP employees, who are on duties in moving trains,” the Union said.
The phenomenon increased recently with the peak of activity linked to Christmas shopping.
As per figures reported by UP, about 90 containers were vandalized each day on average in Los Angeles in the last quarter of 2021.
Union Pacific says it strengthened surveillance measures and recruited security staff for its convoys and tracks to meet the challenge.
Police have arrested 100 people in the last months of 2021 for “vandalising and trespassing” Union Pacific trains.
A spokesman for the rail operator said when criminals are arrested, charges are reduced to a misdemeanour or petty offence, and the accused is back on the streets in 24 hours after paying a nominal fine.”
“Criminals boast to our officers that they would not face any consequences,” he said.
K-pop star Rosé and Bruno Mars will perform their viral hit APT. live for the first time today at the… Read More
Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted at a dream that has fans buzzing—playing professional football alongside his son, Cristiano Jr. In a… Read More
The government of Canada has responded to a recent media report linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the killing of… Read More
The Labor Department reported on Thursday that new jobless claims fell by 6,000 to 213,000 for the week of November… Read More
Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader of the Supreme Court of Maryland has named Judge Joseph M. Stanalonis as the county… Read More
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is back in 2025 with an incredible lineup. Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post… Read More
This website uses cookies.
Read More