A spokesperson for Union Pacific (UP) put forth a statement at the end of this past week stating that the company estimates that roughly 90 shipping cargo containers are broken into by thieves on a daily basis as pictures have recently gone viral showing the damage caused by groups of thieves stealing multiple thousands of packages.
The director of public affairs for UP, Adrian Guerrero, unveiled the following information in a document sent to far-left L.A. District Attorney George Gascon:
- “Since December 2020, UP has experienced an over 160% increase in criminal rail theft in Los Angeles County. In several months during that period, the increase from the previous year surpassed 200%. In October 2021 alone, the increase was 356% over compared to October 2020. Not only do these dramatic increases represent retail product thefts – they include increased assaults and armed robberies of UP employees performing their duties moving trains.”
- As seen in the past few months, “over 90 containers [are] compromised per day.”
- “This increased criminal activity over the past twelve months accounts for approximately $5 million in claims, losses and damages to UP. And that value does not include respective losses to our impacted customers.”
Guerrero then went on to hurl criticisms at the city’s far-left leaning stance when it comes to politics, stating that they are the ones that are making decisions that enable these criminals who he states are bragging about being let off easy for their transgressions for their crimes if they even get caught at all.
“Criminals are caught and arrested, turned over to local authorities for booking, arraigned before the local courts, charges are reduced to a misdemeanor or petty offense, and the criminal is released after paying a nominal fine,” stated Guerrero. “These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than twenty-four hours. Even with all the arrests made, the no-cash bail policy and extended timeframe for suspects to appear in court is causing re-victimization to UP by these same criminals. In fact, criminals boast to our officers that charges will be pied down to simple trespassing – which bears no serious consequence. Without any judicial deterrence or consequence, it is no surprise that over the past year UP has witnessed the significant increase in criminal rail theft described above.”
“While we understand the well-intended social justice goals of the policy, we need our justice system to support our partnership efforts with local law enforcement, hold these criminals accountable, and most important, help protect our employees and the critical local and national rail network,” continued Guerrero.
Guerrero then went on to state that the problem has become such an issue recently that Union Pacific is now evaluating “serious changes to our operating plans to avoid Los Angeles County.”
Leave a Reply