Four arrested for ransacking railway cargo containers in Chicago

Chicago police arrested several people following a large-scale rail cargo theft incident last week.

The incident took place around 2:40 p.m. on Friday, October 11 on the west side of Chicago, Illinois.

According to Union Pacific, a train was stopped near Lake St. and Lockwood Avenue to wait for a connection with a railroad partner.

As the train was halted, dozens of people broke into the containers loaded onto the train and began off-loading items like televisions and air fryers.

Fox 32 reports that people loaded the stolen goods into personal vehicles, and, in one instance, a box truck.

Four people were arrested in connection with the cargo theft incident, and Union Pacific says that some of the stolen merchandise has been recovered. Six were initially detained but two were later released.

“Rail burglaries are not victimless crimes, and they pose a safety threat to the public, our employees and local law enforcement officers,” Union Pacific said.