Freight trains traversing the deserts of California and Arizona have been the target of a series of high-profile thefts, with over $3 million (US$2 million) worth of brand new Nike sneakers stolen. This includes unreleased models, as revealed by court documents and officials.
One notable incident occurred on January 13, where suspects cut an air brake hose on a BNSF freight train in Arizona, making off with more than 1,900 pairs of Nikes valued at approximately $694,000. Among the stolen items were the Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4s, set to launch for public sale on March 14 at $355 per pair.
These heists are part of at least ten robberies targeting BNSF trains since March, primarily taking place in remote areas of the Mojave Desert. Investigators report that nearly all these incidents involved the theft of Nike sneakers. Following the January heist, eleven individuals were charged with receiving stolen goods; all pleaded not guilty and remain in custody. Of these, ten were undocumented migrants from Mexico, while one had sought asylum in the U.S.
The thieves employed tracking devices hidden in some of the stolen shoe boxes, which assisted authorities in apprehending the suspects. Another case involved a freight train forced to make an emergency stop, leading to the discovery of 180 pairs of unreleased Air Jordan sneakers valued at $65,000.
According to Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk’s CargoNet, criminals often scout rail lines parallel to Interstate 40, boarding slow-moving trains to exploit opportunities. These thieves are sometimes aided by accomplices at warehouses or trucking firms who tip them off about valuable shipments.
The issue of cargo theft has significantly escalated over recent years. In 2022 alone, the six largest freight railroads in the U.S. incurred losses over $157 million due to thefts and damages. The Association of American Railroads reported a 40 per cent increase in thefts, with the count reaching 65,000 incidents nationwide last year.
Despite railroads investing heavily in security measures, the vast network of tracks—over 140,000 miles—remains challenging to oversee. This ongoing issue has prompted calls for stricter federal enforcement and penalties to deter organised crime instances. Notably, the vast complexity of the logistics chain involves thefts affecting not only trains but also trucks and ships, with annual losses estimated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be between $24 billion and $55 billion.
As freight companies like BNSF continue to collaborate with law enforcement, the growing sophistication of thefts has raised concerns within the industry, highlighting an urgent need for improved security and prevention strategies.