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
Darius Rucker Launches NFL Apparel Line
Three-time Grammy Award winner Darius Rucker joins Cheddar News to discuss his new apparel line, NFL x Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics, a new line of officially licensed NFL apparel inspired by Rucker’s love of music, football, and fashion.
NVIDIA Beats Earnings Expectations on Strong Gaming, Data Center Revenue
Chipmaker NVIDIA easily beat its third quarter fiscal 2022 earnings expectations, reporting earnings per share of $1.17 on revenue of $7.1 billion, thanks to success in its gaming and data center divisions. The company is also poised for potential success as tech giants like Facebook and Microsoft push forward with metaverse projects and technology. Daniel Newman, Founding Partner and Principal Analyst at Futurum Research, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss NVIDIA's earnings results, chipmaker competition, and more.
Broader European Cannabis Market Set to Expand Amid Potential German Legalization
Germany could be on track to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis, which could represent a massive market opportunity for cannabis companies. Prohibition Partners' researcher Conor O'Brien joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the potential legalization of recreational marijuana in Germany, Luxembourg's recent legalization, and what those moves mean for the broader cannabis industry.
VanEck's Bitcoin-Linked Futures ETF Begins Trading
ETF and mutual fund manager VanEck has launched its XBTF - the third Bitcoin-linked futures ETF to enter the market. This comes after VanEck's application for a spot product Bitcoin ETF was denied by the SEC, and also as the broader crypto markets slump this week. Kyle DaCruz, Director of Digital Asset Product for VanEck, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the XBTF's debut, investor demand, and more.
Big-Name Retailers Post Better-Than-Expected Earnings Despite Inflation
Major U.S. retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Target have all reported better than expected earnings heading into the holiday season. This comes as retail sales climbed in October, despite the biggest inflation surge in more than 30 years. David Steinberg, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Zeta Global, explains why inflation doesn't seem to be scaring consumers away.
Load More