Among the stolen sneakers are limited edition Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4s, which are set to retail for $225 starting March 14, 2025.

Eleven suspects charged in connection with the January 13 theft have pleaded not guilty; ten are undocumented Mexican nationals and one is a Mexican citizen in asylum proceedings.

The thieves, often aided by accomplices in warehouses or trucking companies, board slow-moving trains and cut air brake hoses to make emergency stops for stealing high-value sneaker shipments.

Stolen merchandise is typically transported to California for resale on online platforms like Amazon and eBay, both of which maintain a zero-tolerance policy for stolen goods.

The railroad industry is advocating for stronger federal enforcement and tougher penalties to combat organized thefts, which have become increasingly sophisticated.

In 2024, cargo thefts from trains cost the six largest U.S. freight railroads over $100 million, with incidents increasing by approximately 40% to a total of 65,000 nationwide.

The FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are focusing on cargo thefts, which account for annual losses estimated between $15 billion and $35 billion across various transportation methods.

Since March 2024, a series of at least ten train heists targeting BNSF freight trains in California and Arizona have resulted in the theft of Nike sneakers valued at nearly $2 million.

BNSF and Union Pacific, the freight railroads affected by these thefts, have not publicly commented on the situation, although BNSF has indicated it shares information with local law enforcement.

In June 2024, authorities executed search warrants recovering around $3 million worth of stolen merchandise, including Nike shoes, from multiple locations.

Authorities were able to identify suspects involved in a January 13 heist through tracking devices found in the stolen boxes.

Despite investing millions in theft prevention, railroads face challenges in securing over 225,300 kilometers (140,000 miles) of track.