The Union Pacific train travels through boxes and packages of stolen merchandise – Photo: DAVID SWANSON / EFE
A Union Pacific train derailed this Saturday afternoon in the Lincoln Heights area, nearby the area where was recently reported the theft of merchandise transported on the railway.
There were 17 derailed wagons, along with boxes and packages of stolen merchandise that still remain in the area.
Aerial images showed the site of the derailment, near San Pablo Street and Valley Boulevard. This area is expected to remain closed for some time.
BREAKING: Train derailment in #LincolnHeights, Union Pacific tells us that 17 containers derailed this afternoon at the same site of recent train thefts that have been occurring. @NBCLA @gabenewsla pic.twitter.com/R0PZlezkpT
— Katherine Picazo (@PicazoKatherine) January 16, 2022
Next to the derailed railway, boxes from companies like Amazon and UPS could be seen, which were discarded by thieves after stealing the merchandise they kept.
The Union Pacific company reported that none of their employees were injured in the railcar derailment, and that an investigation was being carried out to find out what caused this accident.
At the moment, it is unknown if another merchandise theft occurred this Saturday.
The train company said they have applied to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office to identify and arrest those responsible for committing the merchandise heists that is transported in the wagons.
“Our company is committed to working with law enforcement to ensure collective safety in Los Angeles County’s expanding infrastructure, whether it be at our ports or on the train tracks,” the District Attorney’s office said in a statement.
“Some cases brought to our office by Union Pacific have been filed as robbery and grand theft, while others have been dismissed due to insufficient evidence. We make prosecution decisions based on evidence. Our office takes Union Pacific’s concerns seriously and looks forward to discussing this issue further in the coming weeks,” the office added.
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