In a brazen display of lawlessness in the US city of Chicago, several men looted a parked freight train in broad daylight on Friday and absconded with goods ranging from televisions to air fryers.
The incident occurred on Union Pacific tracks situated between Lake and Kinzie Streets, spanning an area from Cicero to Laramie Avenue, US-based news outlet CBS reported. On Friday afternoon, the miscreants gained access to the train, reportedly bypassing security measures to reach the cargo. Over several hours, they ransacked boxcars, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Alarmed residents witnessed the unfolding scene, reporting the incident to authorities. Responding officers arrived to find individuals carrying away stolen goods, including air fryers and televisions, which were being loaded into waiting vehicles. Discarded boxes littered the surrounding streets, evidence of the widespread looting.
Despite the presence of Chicago Police, Union Pacific police, and Metra police, individuals continued to scale the embankment at Lake Street and Lavergne Avenue, attempting to access the train. It took Union Pacific police a full hour to clear the tracks. A spokesperson for Union Pacific, in a statement, said officials said. “Rail burglaries pose a safety threat to the public, our employees and local law enforcement officers.”