PHOENIX (AZFamily)
— A former FBI agent gave Arizona’s Family new insight into the growing trend of train heists in northern Arizona. “Train robberies have been around as long as there’s been trains. Criminals are always going to look for something to make money for them by violating the law. This just happens to be the latest scam of what they’re doing today, but like the past, they can be caught and brought to justice,” said
retired FBI special agent John “FBI John” Iannarelli
.
As Arizona sees a rash of train robberies
, he said remote parts of the state are prime places for thieves to make their move. “One of the reasons train heists are happening in Arizona is because we have so much undeveloped land. There’s a lot of places out there where a train can be stopped, cargo taken off the train, and the cops are miles and miles away,” said Iannarelli.
More than 100 trains roll through this state every day, some carry expensive cargo, but in all these recent cases, the
targeted cargo is Nike sneakers
. In one case earlier this year, an estimated more than
$200,000 worth of shoes were stolen
.
Iannarelli suspects there must be
someone on the inside helping these thieves
. “Whoever is giving them information either knows where the cars are placed specifically on the train, or somebody familiar with the cars that are loaded know what the car would look like so that it can be identified by the robbers. Either way, someone would have to have inside knowledge, not just about the cargo, but train operations schedules,” he said.
Since the beginning of the year, more than a dozen people have been arrested or indicted
on charges related to these thefts
. All the ones Arizona’s Family knows of are from foreign countries,
with some here legally and illegally
.
“The reality is these persons that have been arrested, that are foreign nationals, they could be part of organized groups such as the cartel or simply just gangs looking to expand into another area where they can make money through criminal means,” said Iannarelli.
If you unknowingly buy these stolen shoes, Iannarelli said you shouldn’t be worried. The issue is whether you knowingly buy these stolen products. “If they’re shopkeepers or entities looking to make large purchases, clearly knowing this is not coming from a reputable dealer, they’re moving stolen property and they’re facing a serious crime,” he said.
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