In a series of brazen train heists, organized thieves have pilfered over $2 million in Nike sneakers from freight trains traversing the remote deserts of California and Arizona. The stolen goods include rare and unreleased sneakers, marking a significant loss for both the rail companies and Nike. Among the notable thefts, a January 13 incident involved the theft of more than 1,900 pairs of unreleased Nike sneakers valued at over $440,000 in Perrin, Arizona. The stolen footwear included exclusive Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4s, not set for public release until March 14 but anticipated to retail at $225 each.
Authorities have been investigating these string of heists, with at least 10 incidents reported along BNSF railways in isolated parts of the Mojave Desert since March. In an overwhelming majority of the heists, Nike sneakers were the primary targets. Details shared by investigators highlight the sophisticated nature of these thefts.
In connection to the January theft, eleven individuals have been apprehended and charged with possessing or receiving stolen goods from interstate shipments. These suspects, detained until trial, are believed to be at high risk of fleeing according to Arizona magistrate judges. Among them, most are reportedly Mexican nationals who were illegally in the U.S., and one is in the midst of asylum proceedings.
Keith Lewis, a deputy sheriff in Arizona and vice president of Verisk’s CargoNet operations, has mentioned that the thieves often scout valuable shipments by accessing slow-moving trains. They are reportedly tipped off by accomplices linked to warehouses or trucking firms. These organized gangs use “follow vehicles” to coordinate their heists, managing to escape as soon as the trains come to a stop—either scheduled or compelled by deliberate sabotage, like cutting air hoses.
The escalating problem, costing the nation’s foremost freight railways over $100 million last year, underscores the intricate operations with thieves targeting more regularly. A trade group representing American railroads notes a significant 40% increase in train thefts nationwide last year, totaling around 65,000 incidents. Despite railways investing heavily in theft-prevention measures, they face challenges across vast and often isolated expanses of track.
Railways such as BNSF, alongside Union Pacific and others, seek enhanced federal support and stricter penalties to deter such criminal activities. Arrests prove difficult, capturing perpetrators in only about 10% of attempts, often involving repeat offenders. In one noteworthy instance, a single thief was apprehended five times on the same day.
Although BNSF and other rail operators have yet to comment directly on these theft incidents, internally, they collaborate with local law enforcement when necessary. Their procedure emphasizes reporting over confrontation, given the vast stretches rail staff must monitor. The capture of January 13 suspects was aided by tracking devices embedded within some of the stolen shoe boxes.
In another incident, a November emergency stop near Hackberry, Arizona, unveiled about 180 pairs of unreleased Air Jordans worth $41,400, found in a van fleeing the scene. The driver has pled not guilty to related charges. Additional burglaries in April and June recovered around $346,200 in unreleased Nike sneakers, with further incidents near Kingman and Seligman causing $612,000 in losses and leading to eight arrests.
These sophisticated raiding techniques echo last year’s events in Los Angeles, where trains were repeatedly targeted near downtown, stripping contents from packages nationwide and littering tracks with remnants. These audacious actions have driven a concerted effort to boost local security and protect freight shipments from burgeoning thefts.
