Sitting target: Train full of packages DERAILS outside of LA depot among discarded Amazon and UPS parcels ransacked by thieves
- The derailment occurred near the intersection of San Pablo street and Valley Boulevard in Lincoln Heights
- It is unclear what caused the derailment, but many torn up packages left in the area by cargo thieves could be seen at the intersection, which remains closed. It is unknown if anyone was injured
- Los Angeles has continued to see a rising trend in thieves looting from cargo containers carrying valuable items on Union Pacific tracks from companies including Amazon, REI and UPS bound for West Coast homes
- 'Union Pacific is very concerned about the increased cargo thefts in California, and we have taken several steps to address this criminal activity,' they company said in a statement about the rise in cargo thefts
A Union Pacific train full of packages derailed outside of a depot near an area where thousands of empty boxes had been left discarded by Los Angeles cargo thieves.
The derailment occurred on Saturday afternoon near the intersection of San Pablo Street and Valley Boulevard in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood.
'This afternoon approximately 17 cars on a Union Pacific train derailed just outside of our LATC yard, the same area where the vandalism has been occurring,' the company said in a statement after the derailment. 'The train crew was not hurt.'
It is unclear what caused the derailment, but many torn up packages left in the area by cargo thieves could be seen at the intersection, which remains closed.
Freight cars on Los Angeles railways are broken into on a daily basis by thieves who take advantage of the train's stops and loot packages. They leave behind the discarded boxes of Amazon and UPS packages, unused COVID tests and epi-pens they steal.
A Union Pacific train full of packages derailed outside of an LA depot amongst discarded Amazon and UPS parcels ransacked by thieves
A portion of the thousands of empty boxes left by cargo thieves are seen next to a derailed Union Pacific freight train left by cargo thieves in the Lincoln Heights section of Los Angeles
Dozens of freight cars are broken into every day on Los Angeles railways by thieves who take advantage of the train's stops to loot packages
The Los Angeles area has continued to see a rising trend in thieves looting from cargo containers carrying valuable items on Union Pacific tracks
The Los Angeles area has continued to see a rising trend in thieves looting from cargo containers carrying valuable items on Union Pacific tracks from companies including Amazon, REI and UPS that were bound for West Coast residences.
A series of discarded products such as unused COVID test vials and pharmaceutical drugs that were considered to be dispensable were also discarded.
Packages have also been seen spilling from open containers as thieves have been using materials such as bolt cutters to break the locks when the train is either stopped or slowly moving.
An increased security presence on the railway has since been enforced by Union Pacific to catch potential looters surveying the area.
The packages bought online leaving thousands of gutted boxes, including Amazon packages, UPS boxes, unused COVID tests, fishing lures and epi pens that will never reach their location
UPS bags are popular among 'thieves opening cargo containers' because 'they are often full of boxes with merchandise bound for residential addresses'
Discarded boxes left behind by Los Angeles cargo thieves
The railway company has since released a statement about their increasing concern of cargo theft on the tracks.
'Union Pacific is very concerned about the increased cargo thefts in California, and we have taken several steps to address this criminal activity,' they said in a statement.
'These rail crimes pose a serious safety threat to the public, our employees and local law enforcement officers.
'We have increased the number of Union Pacific special agents on patrol, and we have utilized and explored additional technologies to help us combat this criminal activity.
'We also will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners and elected leaders.'
The company has continued to report crimes on the tracks as the debris that had been accumulated was the result of only a month's worth of cargo looting.
They have also estimated that around 90 packages are compromised per day, according to Fox.
Union Pacific has continued to report crimes on the tracks as the debris that had been accumulated was the result of only a month's worth of cargo looting
Despite these concerns, The LAPD has said that they do not respond to these type of crimes unless they are requested by the company for help
They have also estimated that around 90 packages are compromised per day, according to Fox
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Despite these concerns, The LAPD has said that they do not respond to these type of crimes unless they are requested by the company for help.
However, Union Pacific has their own police force who have been actively patrolling the tracks.
This is not the first instance where cargo containers have been targeted in the last months.
Cargo burglaries were also reported in November during the supply chain crisis period as trains en route to Los Angeles ports were being looted.
The cargo trains had traveled through an area of tracks that were lined with homeless encampments where thieves were reportedly cutting through the carts with bolt cutters.
Officials with the city then moved the shipping containers into vacant lots to prevent further thefts as a result.
Officials with the city then moved the shipping containers into vacant lots to prevent further thefts as a result
Union Pacific has their own police force who have been actively patrolling the tracks
Cargo burglaries were also reported in November during the supply chain crisis period as trains en route to Los Angeles ports were being looted
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