A group of thieves broke into a freight train on Chicago’s West Side Friday afternoon in a brazen daylight heist that was captured on video.
The incident led to “extensive delays” for riders of Metra, the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The train targeted by the looters was parked near the overpass at Cicero Avenue.
Videos shared by local news outlets show at least a dozen people breaking into the train, grabbing large boxes of merchandise, before running away.
Some can be seen loading boxes on tops of vehicles nearby.
Later on Friday, a spokesperson for Union Pacific Railroad said in a statement that the train had stopped in South Austin and was “awaiting an interchange with a partner railroad when thieves began opening containers.”
According to CBS News Chicago, some of the boxes contained appliances including televisions and air fryers.
At least six individuals were arrested, according to ABC7.
Some merchandise has been recovered, a spokesperson for Union Pacific said in a statement Friday night.
“Rail burglaries are not victimless crimes, and they pose a safety threat to the public, our employees and local law enforcement officers,” the spokesperson added.
