Police in Colton, California have recovered some $54,000 worth of stolen Hot Wheels merchandise after a BNSF Railway freight shipment was burglarized. The investigation was launched after a witness reported suspicious activity near railway tracks around 3 a.m. Thursday, October 22. Officers stopped a pickup truck carrying 350 boxes of toy cars.
One arrest has been made in connection with the incident and detectives are continuing to investigate whether other individuals were involved in the theft.
The Colton Police Department released a video showing the first 911 caller reporting people stealing merchandise near Maple Street. An officer stood near the corner of Seventh Street and La Cadena Drive to watch the streets around. Police footage shows officers following a black Chevrolet Silverado before making the stop.
The driver got out of the pickup truck with his hands on his head and was arrested.
On Oct. 22, the department announced in a Facebook post that it had recovered the stolen merchandise. The suspect was booked into West Valley Detention Centre on suspicion of burglary, grand theft and possession of stolen property. Authorities did not release the individual’s identity to the public.
An Open Shipping Container Near the Railway Tracks
The investigation has gone beyond just the recovered pickup truck, Colton Police Department spokesperson Jillian Nunez told FreightWaves.
Officers located an open Maersk shipping container with additional merchandise near railway tracks. Investigators learned Mattel owned the cargo and BNSF Railway took possession of the recovered property.
Nunez said the merchandise will be returned to its rightful owner through proper procedures.
A Series of Cargo Theft Cases Involving BNSF Shipments
The Colton arrest adds to a series of freight theft investigations involving BNSF Railway shipments across Southern California.
In August, deputies recovered approximately $150,000 worth of New Balance shoes after a boxcar burglary near Daggett, California. The following month, a container caught fire during a burglary aboard a moving BNSF train near Riverside, California.
More recently, in October, detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department uncovered approximately $1 million in stolen merchandise originating from BNSF and Union Pacific shipments at a shoe retailer in Whittier, California.
The incidents illustrate the continuing challenges associated with protecting rail freight and preventing the unauthorized removal of goods in transit.
Colton police also maintain an active enforcement contract with BNSF Railway to address cargo theft and related criminal activity. Nunez confirmed the agreement in her response to FreightWaves. However, officials have not disclosed its duration or the specific enforcement responsibilities covered by the arrangement.
Detectives Investigate Possible Other Suspects Involvement
One person has been arrested, but investigators say others may have had a role in the theft. Detectives came to that conclusion after reviewing statements from witnesses and other information gathered during the investigation, Nunez said.
The case is still an open investigation under #26-07172. Colton police have not speculated on any possible links to the incident and other cargo thefts reported throughout the Inland Empire region.
A number of key questions still remain unanswered. Investigators have not said whether the container was opened while the train was moving or stopped. They also have not said how the suspects gained access to the equipment or if all of the missing merchandise has been found.
The intended destination of the shipment was also not disclosed.
FreightWaves reached out to BNSF Railway for additional comment, but the railway declined to comment before publication.
The Importance of Recovery for Rail Freight Security
The approximately $54,000 in merchandise recovered is an example of how a timely report can help law enforcement respond to suspected cargo theft. A witness’s 911 call helped officers identify and stop a vehicle containing hundreds of boxes of stolen goods here.
The investigation also underlines the need for cooperation between local police, railway operators and witnesses to address thefts involving freight shipments.
The arrest constitutes an important breakthrough, but questions remain about access to the containers, the possible involvement of other suspects and the full extent of the missing cargo. Officers are continuing to establish the circumstances of the burglary and whether any further action is needed.
