$200 Million in Stolen Goods from Trains: Rail Cargo Theft Rises in the U.S.

Rail cargo theft in the United States has become a growing threat to railroad companies and their customers. As criminal groups take advantage of train stops to steal high-value goods, companies such as CSX, Union Pacific, and BNSF Railway are increasing their investments in AI-powered cameras, drones, fences, and specialized surveillance to secure their cargo.

In November 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee, a CSX train that was stopped near a rail yard was attacked by three men who got out of a black Kia Soul and climbed onto the railcars during the night. The suspects broke the locks on several containers and stole goods valued at more than $20,000. After the theft, the criminals loaded some of the merchandise into the vehicle and hid the rest in a nearby wooded area to retrieve it later, according to Transport Topics.

What the criminals did not know was that the rail yard was equipped with artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cameras, whose technology enabled authorities to track the vehicle used in the theft. A specialized railroad crime task force, led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), mobilized federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the Tennessee National Guard and CSX police.

An aircraft followed the vehicle for approximately 11 miles. Hours later, officers intervened when one of the suspects was unloading boxes containing allegedly stolen merchandise. The other two suspects were arrested in the following days, according to police records.

This case not only reflects a broader problem but also demonstrates the results that detection technologies can produce during cargo theft incidents. However, companies are not only seeking to catch those responsible but also to prevent and put an end to such attacks.

Train thefts have quadrupled since the pandemic

Cargo theft across U.S. rail networks has quadrupled compared with pre-2020 levels. During the pandemic, disruptions to certain supply chains coincided with a sharp increase in demand for physical goods. Rail hubs located in major urban areas began to become particularly attractive targets for organizations involved in cargo theft.

According to research by Transport Topics, approximately 75,000 cargo thefts occurred in 2025, resulting in losses of more than $200 million. Chicago, Los Angeles, and Memphis stand out as major areas of concern for the railroad industry because of their importance as transportation and distribution hubs.

Among the products that attract the most interest are electronics, luxury clothing, beverages, and tires. These items can later be sold through small businesses, independent distributors, repair shops, or online marketplaces.

Tires represent a particularly attractive niche because they can be resold relatively easily. Other groups focus on electronics and clothing, whose demand allows stolen goods to be quickly converted into cash.

Criminals have also attempted to steal larger items, including vehicles, although in some cases security systems prevent them from removing the vehicles from the railcars.

Long trains and predictable stops create opportunities

Changes in railroad operations have also contributed to the problem. Companies’ efforts to increase efficiency have resulted in trains that can reach up to three miles in length and often operate with reduced crews. As a result, long and relatively predictable stops near certain stations create opportunities for criminals to board trains and open containers.

In Memphis, authorities have identified the presence of gangs such as the Gangster Disciples, Crips, and Almighty Vice Lords in connection with these crimes. In other regions, investigators have pointed to the involvement of more sophisticated criminal networks and, in some cases, possible ties to transnational organizations.

Tactics are also changing. Some groups have stopped relying exclusively on cell phones and are using walkie-talkies to coordinate their movements. Others target trains that stop farther from urban areas, where police response may be more difficult. There have even been cases in which criminals have jumped from bridges onto moving trains.

Railroads increase investments in technology and surveillance

As cargo theft from trains continues to rise, railroad companies are investing millions of dollars in security. One example in Memphis is CSX’s Leewood Yard, which went from being a mostly open facility to having features similar to a fortified area. The company invested more than $7.5 million in approximately 14,000 feet of security fencing and structures topped with barbed wire more than 15 feet high.

The company also installed around 30 surveillance cameras equipped with artificial intelligence software. These tools allow the facility to be monitored in real time and support subsequent investigations, even when criminals attempt to change vehicle license plates.

CSX has also modified its schedules to keep trains moving as they pass through areas considered high-risk. The company says these measures have helped reduce railroad theft in the Memphis region by 80% from one year to the next.

Union Pacific is another company that has allocated significant resources to combating cargo theft. Since January 2023, the company has invested more than $30 million in security projects, including drones with thermal imaging, AI-enhanced cameras, and physical barriers.

BNSF Railway has its own police force of approximately 200 officers, as well as canine units, and is incorporating electric fences, walls, and cut-resistant barriers.

The goal is no longer simply to respond after a theft occurs. The strategy is to detect criminals in real time, identify vehicles, anticipate patterns, and facilitate arrests.

However, the challenge for the freight transportation sector is not limited to the value of the stolen goods. Each theft can cause operational disruptions, damage to railcars, losses for customers, and higher security and insurance costs.

The battle to reduce rail cargo theft is therefore shifting from tracks and rail yards to the realm of technology and law enforcement intelligence. In Memphis, AI-powered cameras demonstrated that they can make a difference: an operation that might once have ended with missing merchandise instead resulted in three suspects being identified and arrested.