CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) Authorities in northwestern Indiana have arrested seven people and are pursuing several others in connection with the theft of some $3 million in pharmaceuticals, electronics and other cargo from trains in the Chicago area.
Lake County Sheriff John Buncich said the arrests followed an eight-month investigation into the thefts.
Buncich said the thieves stole items from train cars that were temporarily parked in rail yards in northwestern Indiana and in Bedford Park, Ill., just southwest of Chicago. He said those charged had known which cars to target.
Its amazing how fast they can get into a freight car and steal the merchandise, mainly at night but sometimes even in the daytime, he said in announcing the arrests on Monday.
Those arrested are accused of stealing an estimated $2.5 million in pharmaceuticals, 18 automobiles and two motorcycles, along with computers and televisions. The group then allegedly sold the items around the Chicago area, the Post-Tribune of Merrillville and The Times of Munster reported.
James Haskell, a CSX Railroad crime investigators, said sometimes thieves would break into cars of trains that stopped for signal delays, derailments or construction.
Those arrested are all from northwestern Indiana and face charges including auto theft, possessing stolen firearms and resisting arrest.
Just heard about this today when I got to Bedford Park. There are cameras everywhere. How they managed to pull it off without getting caught sooner definitely indicates an inside job.
-- Edited by YardSlug on Thursday 27th of March 2014 08:31:01 AM
Yep, inside job! More'n one pair of eyes lookin' out, and it was ever so easy, let's hit 'em again! Then again, and again! Shit this is easy! Greed will getcha every damn time!
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Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.