In 2025, a string of train heists reminiscent of the Wild West is sweeping through California and Arizona, with robbers targeting valuable goods such as Nike shoes and electronics on trains operated by BNSF. These heists involve a fast and efficient process, with robbers scouting containers, boarding trains, and cutting the air hose to force the locomotive to stop for unloading. Over $2 million worth of goods have been stolen in at least 10 such heists, with more than 60 suspects facing federal charges.
The robbers work in coordination, swiftly unloading the stolen merchandise into waiting trucks before fleeing isolated areas inaccessible to law enforcement vehicles. While some arrests have been made, not all heists end in apprehension, leaving conductors and engineers stranded and unable to intervene due to lack of equipment and safety protocols.
The ringleader of some of these train heists, Felipe Avalos-Mejia, has been identified as operating out of Phoenix and Los Angeles, organizing a network of scouts and burglary crews to target and rob trains. In June, police arrested 43 suspects connected to Avalos-Mejia, recovering $3 million in stolen merchandise. Courts documents reveal a detailed ledger listing stolen merchandise and their values.
These daring train heists have become a significant challenge for law enforcement and railway companies, prompting collective efforts to disrupt the criminal activities and arrest offenders, but the agile and organized nature of the robbers presents a formidable obstacle in combating this modern-day train robbery phenomenon.
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