“Authorities Arrest Two Masterminds in Nike Sneaker Train Heists”
Two suspects were apprehended by the police in Arizona on Thursday for their involvement in train robberies targeting Nike shoes. Over the past year, a series of thefts have occurred on freight trains passing through the Mojave Desert in the southwest U.S., with many of them focusing on high-value Nike sneakers as reported by the Los Angeles Times in February. At least 10 similar robberies are under investigation.
The Hualapai Nation Police Department stopped a maroon Chevy Tahoe at 2:40 a.m. on Thursday, suspecting its involvement in the train robberies in the area, as stated in a Facebook post by the agency. Although it remains unclear how the police linked the vehicle to the crimes, the driver, a man from Mexico, was detained while eight individuals fled. Nearby, officers discovered the stolen Nike shoes.
During the investigation, another arrest was made involving a woman driving a white Toyota 4Runner, who was initially stopped for not yielding to an emergency vehicle. Upon approaching the car, the officers noted evidence of criminal activity linked to the train robberies. As the driver initially complied to exit the vehicle, she eventually returned to the car and attempted to drive away, hitting a patrol officer in the process without causing any injuries. A pursuit ensued for approximately 80 miles until the woman lost control of her vehicle in a construction zone near the Arizona-California border, resulting in her ejection and minor injuries. She was subsequently taken to the Valley View Medical Center in Mohave Valley, Arizona, for treatment.
Both suspects were booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center for their suspected roles in the train robberies case, with the police also stating that both individuals were in the U.S. unlawfully.
