"Authorities have seen a rise in railroad heists targeting Nike shoes between California and Arizona over the past two years," with Sinaloa Cartel members and other criminal rings targeting BNSF rail cars in northern and southern Arizona.

In May 2025, suspects were accused of stealing multiple trailers loaded with high-value electronics (Samsung TVs) and beverages worth millions of dollars from a Phoenix yard.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has warned consumers about "hostage loads," where moving companies illegally demand higher prices after loading goods. "Movers who unlawfully take consumers' property hostage are essentially thieves masquerading as movers," Mayes said.

Experts and industry officials note that "what we're seeing just in the last three years is a 1,500% increase in the criminal activity that surrounds our industry," according to Mike Strom of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, who highlighted the dangers posed by these thefts.

"Transnational organized crime members," "loosely organized criminal street gangs," and "criminal opportunists" are frequently involved in these heists, according to officials.