https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/14/economy/la-freight-railroad-t…
Photos and videos showing piles of empty boxes littered alongside rail tracks in Los Angeles County, California have gone viral as shipping companies say they’ve seen a dramatic spike in railroad theft. Some of the boxes are packages from companies like UPS, Amazon and FedEx.
Union Pacific, one of the country’s largest railroad companies, says it may avoid operating in Los Angeles County following the spike in thefts, which it blames on lax prosecution of crimes. The containers and trains are locked, but can be broken into.
Jeff
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Stealing from boxcars sitting in railyards has been going on for decades. I remember a piece on “60 Minutes” decades ago, showing that the boxcars were not locked. The doors were only secured with a simple metal tag, so they could be easily removed when the boxcar got to it’s destination. The tags were also easily removed by thieves.
Watching old movies, we see railyards routinely patrolled by guards. Don’t they have guards anymore? Too much salary expense cutting into the CEO’s bonus?
Steve
4 Likes
Don’t they have guards anymore? Too much salary expense cutting into the CEO’s bonus?
The carriers require the shipper to cover the cost of losses either via higher prices or insurance.
The carriers require the shipper to cover the cost of losses either via higher prices or insurance.
So, the carriers have washed their hands of accountability for the material entrusted to them?
Steve
1 Like
The tough part of robbing boxcars is finding ones that contain something worth stealing.
I’d be surprised if UPS, Fed Ex, or Amazon has boxcars painted with their names on the side.
A boxcar (or container) filled with color TV sets or PCs could be quite a prize. Or filled with Christmas gifts. But autoparts for a Honda? Toilets? Newspaper rolls? Plumbing supplies like faucets?
Visualize thieves going down a line of cars opening each one to see what is in it.
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Union Pacific, one of the country’s largest railroad companies, says it may avoid operating in Los Angeles County following the spike in thefts, which it blames on lax prosecution of crimes. The containers and trains are locked, but can be broken into.
No wonder stores are closing down and moving out of areas where criminals are not prosecuted. If transport companies and others refuse to do business in poorly policed areas, eventually the voting public will turn on lax district attorneys and oust irresponsible politicians.
If they don’t see action soon, people who don’t feel safe will vote with their feet, taking the tax base with them.
5 Likes
A train derailed in the same area in Los Angeles on Saturday. From the video, looks like the train was hauling shipping containers.
TV news report:
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/train-derailed-near…
1 Like
Jeff
Photos and videos showing piles of empty boxes littered alongside rail tracks in Los Angeles County, California
As more and more ghastly pictures like these are seen, it reminds me of scenes from “Escape from New York” and “Soylent Green”.
The pervasive theft and filth that has been spawned by the environment America finds itself in is completely out of control. A way must be found to rein it in, but how? Clamp downs likely would be rife with visuals of over the top violence.
Too bad it’s gotten to the stage where it has; won’t be EZ to turn around, but it has to. Or else?
4 Likes