Arizona sheriff issues warning about I-40 truck stops after thieves in Sprinter vans target semi truck

Police asked the trucking community to use extra caution at truck stops along I-40 in Arizona after a semi truck and a rail car were targeted by a “sophisticated” cargo theft operation.

On May 6, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) out of Arizona, issued a statement about a pair of cargo theft incidents that are believed to be tied to a professional criminal organization based in Southern California.

YCSO said that a cargo theft incident took place on April 14, 2026, in Ash Fork, Arizona.

A semi truck transporting a “high-value load of tech from California” stopped off at a truck stop on I-40 in Ash Fork.

Police said that a pair of Sprinter-style vans followed the truck into the lot, and, “in a highly coordinated move, the suspects waited for the driving team to enter the store before breaching the trailer doors.”

In just eleven minutes, YCSO said that the cargo thieves moved four pallets into the Sprinter vans, stealing merchandise valued between $150,000 and $175,000.

Deputies say that one of the Sprinter vans was gray. The other Sprinter van was white and driven by a Hispanic male.

Another cargo theft incident took place on April 20, 2026. In this case, YCSO said that a BNSF Railway car was burglarized using “sophisticated and planned attack” methods.

Police believe that the same criminal organization was responsible for both cargo thefts.

“The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public and members of the trucking community to remain vigilant. If you have any information regarding Sprinter-style vans operating without license plates, or have observed suspicious activity near I-40 Truck Stops or rail lines, please get in touch with local law enforcement,” YCSO said.