Wild footage shows at least 50 thieves ransacking freight train in Chicago as cops rush to the scene and service is ground to halt
At least fifty thieves boarded a freight train on Chicago’s West Side to loot whatever items they could get their hands on.
The group of wayward opportunists swarmed the Union Pacific train on Friday to steal several boxes before officers arrived.
The robbery happened just before 4 p.m. in the 400 block of North Lamon Avenue in the South Austin neighborhood.
The massive robbery forced the train to suspend operations. In a statement on X.com, Metra said that “train service has been temporarily suspended due to ongoing police activity in the Kedzie area.”
On Friday, thieves swarmed the Union Pacific train and stole several boxes of items before officers arrived
The statement continued: “Metra encourages customers to seek alternative transportation at this time.”
Crazy footage from the scene revealed the coordinated nature of the heist.
People can be seen clambering over the tracks to an open freight container, where several men are busy removing boxes.
The men then hand the load to other people who carry it along the track to waiting trucks.
A crazy video taken at the scene revealed the coordinated nature of the robbery
When authorities arrived, they drew their firearms and pointed them at one of the vehicles.
They estimated the number of thieves to be somewhere between 50 and 150, ABC7 reported.
This isn’t the first time this railroad has been the target of a robbery. In August, thieves looted a freight train near Lawler and Kinzie on the city’s West Side.
The thieves were able to take an impressive loot, including several boxes of TVs.
In a statement, a Union Pacific spokesperson condemned the brazen theft.
The men then hand the load to other people who carry it along the track to waiting trucks
“Rail break-ins pose a safety risk to the public, our employees and local law enforcement,” the official said.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident, although it is unclear whether any arrests have been made.
Chicago authorities could not be reached for comment at this time.
This is a development story.