Crews made railroad repairs in Los Angeles Monday after a train derailed near the location where thieves have been raiding cargo containers, leaving the tracks littered with emptied boxes of packaged good sent by retailers.

It wasn't immediately clear if the derailment that happened Saturday was caused by the debris left behind by thieves in the Lincoln Heights area near downtown Los Angeles. Union Pacific said the cause of the derailment was under investigation.

The derailment caused 17 train cars to go off the tracks, Union Pacific said in a statement. No injuries were reported.

Cargo containers aboard trains have been targeted by thieves for months, authorities said. The stolen packages are from retailers including Amazon, REI and others, the CBSLA television newscast reported last Thursday.

Union Pacific said in a statement to CBSLA that the railroad was concerned about increased cargo thefts in California.

“We have increased the number of Union Pacific special agents on patrol, and we have utilized and explored additional technologies to help us combat this criminal activity. We also will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners and elected leaders,” the railroad company said.

Amazon said it was directing inquiries to police. The United Parcel Service declined to comment on investigations into the cargo thefts but said the company was cooperating with authorities.

Share:
More In Business
The Day Ahead: Bank Earnings, March Retail Sales
Cheddar News takes a look at The Day Ahead as a slate of earnings is due to be reported from some of the country's biggest banks, including JPMorgan, PNC, Wells Fargo and Citigroup. March retail sales are also on tap to be released.
Oatly Executive Discusses Company's Sustainability Efforts
Cheddar News is highlighting companies with a focus on sustainability for Earth Month. Ashley Allen, chief sustainability officer with Oatly, joined Cheddar News to discuss her company's mission to deliver products that have a minimal environmental impact. "We want to make it easy for people to eat better and live healthier lives without recklessly taxing the planet's resources," she said.
Some Iconic Cars Getting a Modern Upgrade
Some well-known iconic and historic cars are getting a modern twist this year. Cheddar News' Michelle Castillo checked in with some high-profile car executives to discuss the upgrades to some of the cars folks have loved for decades.
Load More