Cargo Train Stops, Over 30 People Gather to Rob
"I've Lived Here for Years... This Is the First Time Something Like This Has Happened"
In Chicago, a major U.S. city, robbers rushed in when a freight train came to a stop. The scene of them stealing high-value electronics such as TVs and air fryers and fleeing was captured, shocking American society.
Recent reports by CBS News and others highlighted the 'train robbery' incident in Chicago. The event occurred on the 12th (local time) on a train operated by Union Pacific, one of the largest freight railroad companies in the U.S. At the time, the freight train was temporarily stopped in the South Austin area of Chicago for transshipment. Suddenly, about 30 robbers rushed in and began stealing cargo from the train.
Robbers opening a freight train container and stealing electronic products before fleeing [Image source=Captured from CBS News broadcast]
In the actual footage, people with their faces covered by hoodies climb over a wall and approach the tracks, quickly gathering near the containers. They take boxes of high-value electronics such as air fryers and TVs from inside the train. Some even casually hang the stolen goods on the roof of their cars and flee the scene.
The daylight train robbery in the heart of a major U.S. city shocked local residents. One resident told the media, "I have lived here for several years, but this is the first time I've seen something like this," expressing disbelief that "people actually climbed up the overpass and entered the freight train." Another resident said, "I just stood still watching it and couldn't believe what I was seeing," adding that all nearby witnesses said, "Wow, what did I just see?" to describe the situation.
It is reported that the number of robbers and imitators reached about 30. [Image source=CBS News capture]
The Chicago railroad police, who responded to the report, tried to control the train tracks, but the operation took about an hour. Because of this, more robbers gathered, increasing the damage. Local residents criticized, saying, "The police showed they were completely unprepared for such an incident," and "If the police had acted faster, the damage caused by copycat crimes would not have escalated."
The exact amount of damage has not yet been investigated. However, after the incident, Chicago police arrested six train robbers, two of whom were charged with theft.
Union Pacific issued a statement saying, "This incident is not one without victims," strongly condemning it as "a threat to the safety of consumers, the general public, railroad workers, and public officials." It was also reported that passengers using commuter trains experienced inconvenience due to the aftermath of the incident.
Meanwhile, experts suggested that the robbers targeted containers from specific companies to steal high-value products, raising the possibility of internal information leaks. Currently, Union Pacific is cooperating with local police to identify additional suspects.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
