Two men were arrested after a May 29 train burglary near Meteor Crater, and deputies recovered merchandise with a retail value exceeding $500,000. Investigators say Northern Arizona sees frequent train burglaries — roughly 8–12 a month — carried out by both independent crews and organized networks that often target electronics and clothing. Authorities are forming a Northern Arizona rail task force and coordinating with industry groups pushing Congress for stronger cargo-theft legislation.
Two Arrested, $500K+ Recovered After Northern Arizona Train Burglary; Officials Warn of Organized Cargo-Theft Rings
An eastbound BNSF Railway stack train rolls into Winslow, Ariz., in August 2022. Trains in Arizona are targets of organized cargo theft rings, according to authorities. Bill Stephens
Winslow, Ariz. — Two men were arrested and authorities recovered merchandise with a retail value of more than $500,000 following a train burglary on May 29 near Meteor Crater, west of Winslow. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office says multiple people were observed unloading goods from a stopped BNSF Railway train and transferring them into a van and a box truck beside the tracks.
Investigation Details
Deputies stopped the van and arrested Jaime Beltran-Bojorquez, 32, and Gerardo Mares Vazquez, 28. A second vehicle fled, later crashing near Williams, Arizona; two occupants fled on foot and remain at large. Detective Curtis Peery said the recovered merchandise value is based on retail prices.
Scope And Patterns
While the arrests drew local attention, investigators say the incident reflects a broader, persistent problem: Northern Arizona experiences frequent train burglaries, with Peery estimating roughly eight to 12 incidents per month. Authorities report they encounter both small independent crews and organized criminal networks targeting high-value freight.
“The commodity that is targeted the most is electronics and clothing. Really anything that can be sold on the black market easily,” Detective Curtis Peery said.
Investigators believe much of the stolen property is moved out of state, often to California, where it is resold via online underground markets and swap meets.
Operational Challenges And Response
Officials say cargo-theft investigations are resource-intensive because many crimes occur in remote locations where response times are long and law enforcement resources are limited. Peery emphasized that multijurisdictional coordination has produced the best results: “When we as departments work together that is where we have been the most effective and successful at combating these criminal organizations.”
Law enforcement agencies are pursuing formation of a formal Northern Arizona railway task force focused on cargo-theft cases. The initiative includes collaboration with the Arizona chapter of the Southwest Transportation Security Council to improve information sharing and joint responses.
Industry And Policy Response
BNSF Railway declined to comment on investigation specifics but said it is working with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to address cargo theft. A BNSF spokeswoman noted the company has robust security protocols and urged stronger support from the criminal justice system to ensure offenders are prosecuted.
Industry groups, including BNSF and the Association of American Railroads, are part of a coalition pressing the U.S. Senate to pass legislation aimed at curbing cargo theft after a related bill passed the House.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific commodity involved in the May 29 burglary or whether the two arrested individuals are tied to other investigations. The case remains active.
Note: A version of this article previously appeared at FreightWaves.com. To report news or errors, contact [email protected].
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