WASHINGTON — Cargo theft cost U.S. Class I railroads more than $100 million in 2024, the Association of American Railroads says, calling for more federal efforts to address the thefts and more effective prosecution of those arrested.
The AAR says in a recently released fact sheet that organized criminal groups are increasingly targeting freight moves, with estimates that more than 65,000 such thefts occurred in 2024. That would represent an approximately 40% increase. Railroads also say suspects are increasingly armed, increasing the risk of violence when attempting an arrest.
No more than one in 10 theft attempts result in an arrest, the industry says, and many of those arrested are repeat offenders; one railroad has reported arresting the same individual 17 times. The organization is calling for moves including increased penalties for those who commit cargo theft, “efficient and effective prosecution” when a theft occurs, and funding for federal prosecutors dedicated to cargo theft.
The AAR has also called for passage of a bill introduced in 2024 by U.S. Reps. David G. Valadao (R-Calif.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) that seeks to increase coordination between the Department of HomelandHolemand Security and FBI to address supply-chain theft. That bill, HR 8834, died in committee last year; it does not appear to have been reintroduced as of yet in the current congressional term.
When we’d take a piggyback train from Englewood yard basically anywhere, we’d have standing orders not to stop for any reason. Dispatchers were instructed to give these transfer moves the highest priority. If, for whatever reason we did have to stop, especially on the former NYC/RI between Englewood and 16th St., we’d be stuck directly across from the high rise, low income housing projects. When I’d look back along our train, especially in the summer months, we’d be literally swarmed by petty thieves opening trailers and grabbing whatever was available. On the return trip with just our engines and caboose the track where we’d been stopped would be strewn with empty boxes, opened boxes and merchandise that wasn’t carted off.
In medieval times, thievery was punished by cutting off one of their hands. Maybe we need to resort back to this. As terrible as it sounds, I think crime would come way down. At least the guy in this story that has been caught 17 times would only have done this 2 times, and that would have stopped his rampage.