Nike Shoe Thefts on Trains Lead to Dozens of Indictments
In a string of incidents that have caught federal attention, numerous individuals have been indicted for allegedly orchestrating thefts of Nike shoes from trains traversing through California and northern Arizona. The authorities describe these actions as conspicuous and organized thefts.
A recent indictment involved 11 individuals accused of stealing approximately 2,000 pairs of Nike shoes, valued at around $440,000. Among these defendants, nine were identified as Mexican nationals residing illegally in the U.S. This case is part of a broader trend identified by prosecutors.
“We have charged about 35 people since November 2023 with train-theft related offenses,” stated Addison Owen, a section chief with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona.
One incident in early January highlighted the organized nature of these thefts. A BNSF train was compelled to make an emergency stop after its air hose was severed near Williams, Arizona, allowing cases of Nike shoes to be transferred into waiting trucks. Another case in December saw four U.S. citizens charged with possession of stolen goods after being discovered with trucks full of unreleased Nike sneakers.
Owen remarked on the apparent organized effort: “There appears to be an organized nature to it with individuals working together to coordinate and direct these thefts.”
Investigators have observed that some trains are followed from Southern California until they are stopped in northern Arizona, indicating a sophisticated level of coordination among the thieves.
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