Thousands of parcels are being stolen from slow-moving trains as part of a crime wave that is gripping Los Angeles.
The remains of thousands of packages from Amazon and other home delivery firms have been left strewn along tracks after gangs jumped on to cargo trains and forced open containers.
Much of the crime has taken place on sections of the track which run alongside the city’s growing homeless encampments.
In November, a backlog of cargo from the Port of Los Angeles, America’s busiest port, saw trains standing stationary on the tracks, attracting attention from criminals.
Since then gangs have moved on to targeting slow-moving trains.
Television crews filmed one train robber running off with a package, a police officer chasing two other suspects, and another person carrying bolt cutters. Packages tumbled out of containers on passing trains after doors had been broken open.
Torn packaging stretched into the distance on one section of track, despite efforts by train company Union Pacific to clear it up. The train firm said: “We have increased the number of Union Pacific special agents on patrol, and we have utilised and explored additional technologies to help us combat this criminal activity.”
Camera operator John Schreiber said: “There are looted packages as far as the eye can see. Amazon packages, United Parcel Service boxes, unused Covid tests, fishing lures, epi pens, cargo containers left busted open on trains. I’d say every fourth or fifth rail car had opened containers.”
Critics have linked the crime wave to the ending of a no-bail policy for some defendants.
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