(Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)
" title="Local Angelos look for stuff left by thieves raiding cargo containers aboard trains nearing downtown Los Angeles for months, taking packages belonging to people across the U.S. and leaving the tracks blanketed with discarded boxes as seen here in Friday, Los Angeles CA/USA. Jan 14,2022."
The packages are from retailers including Amazon, REI and others as the sea of debris left behind includes items that the thieves apparently didn’t think were valuable enough to take.
(Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)
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Native Angelos search for stuff left by thieves raiding cargo containers aboard trains nearing downtown Los Angeles for months, taking packages belonging to individuals throughout the U.S. and leaving the tracks blanketed with discarded packing containers as seen right here in Friday, Los Angeles CA/USA. Jan 14,2022.
The packages are from retailers together with Amazon, REI and others because the sea of particles left behind consists of gadgets that the thieves apparently didn’t assume have been helpful sufficient to take.
(Picture by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)
Thieves have been raiding cargo containers aboard trains nearing downtown Los Angeles for months, taking packages belonging to individuals throughout the U.S. and leaving the tracks blanketed with discarded packing containers.
The packages are from retailers together with Amazon, REI and others, CBSLA reported Thursday. The ocean of particles left behind consists of gadgets that the thieves apparently didn’t assume have been helpful sufficient to take.
Whereas CBSLA cameras have been on the scene, one individual was noticed operating off with a container used to carry small packages, and a Union Pacific railroad police officer was noticed pursuing two different individuals who have been apparently going via packages.
The scene was the identical in November, when NBC4 confirmed hundreds of packing containers discarded alongside the tracks lined with homeless encampments northeast of downtown within the Lincoln Park space.
Passing trains carried containers with doorways extensive open and packages tumbling out, NBC4 reported. Video confirmed two males, one holding what appeared like bolt cutters, strolling alongside the tracks, the station stated.
Union Pacific stated in a press release to CBSLA that the railroad was involved about elevated cargo thefts in California.
“We now have elevated the variety of Union Pacific particular brokers on patrol, and we've got utilized and explored extra applied sciences to assist us fight this legal exercise. We additionally will proceed to work with our native legislation enforcement companions and elected leaders,” the railroad stated.
Amazon stated it was directing inquiries to police. The United Parcel Service, UPS, declined to touch upon investigations into the cargo thefts however stated it was cooperating with authorities.
“The protection of our prospects’ items and our staff is our highest precedence,” UPS stated in a press release.
Luis Rosas, who makes about $20 an hour working for an organization subcontracted by Union Pacific to salvage gadgets from the tracks within the Los Angeles space, says he’s encountered the brazen thieves in motion earlier than. Utilizing bolt cutters, they break locks on the containers and cargo up vans or vehicles with the stolen merchandise.
Rosas has been doing this work nearly each day for about six months and whereas he’s been instructed not have interaction in confrontations, he nonetheless feels afraid.
“They don’t even run off anymore. They do it proper in entrance of us,” he instructed The Related Press on Friday, carrying a vivid yellow vest earlier than he headed to work to choose up automobile tires alongside the tracks. “At first I used to be shocked. I used to be amazed by it.”
Individually, a Union Pacific prepare derailed Saturday on the intersection of San Pablo Road and Valley Boulevard, which was then blocked for the foreseeable future, in keeping with USC, which has its Well being Science Campus close by.
The derailment occurred round 4:30 p.m. close to an space the place hundreds of empty packing containers have been left behind by cargo thieves, NBC LA reported.
A complete of 17 vehicles derailed on the website, Union Pacific reported to KTLA.
There was no speedy phrase on accidents nor what brought on the derailment.
Metropolis Information Service contributed to this story.