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California Train Thieves Repeatedly ‘Caught And Released,’ Santa Clarita Politicians Respond

In response to the rampant railroad theft across California, Senator Scott Wilk and Congressman Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita) are urging democratic politicians to change their “lenient” policies that allow criminals to exploit California’s legislation for their gain. 

Photographs of train tracks littered with ransacked packages of Amazon and UPS boxes, unused at-home coronavirus tests, epi pens and more made national headlines when thieves “boasted” to law enforcement that they do not fear the consequences, according to Union Pacific officials. 

“First there were porch pirates, then smash-and-grab robberies, and now we have looters and thieves ransacking cargo trains; all of this happened under one-party-rule in the state,” Wilk said in a statement. “Criminals know how to exploit California’s policies for their gain.”

While criminals are being caught and arrested, charges are reportedly being reduced to misdemeanor offenses and the thieves can be back on the streets within 24 hours after paying a nominal fine, according to Union Pacific officials. 

“Fancy press conferences by the governor are not going to discourage one single crime,” Wilk said. “Californians deserve safer communities and Republicans and look forward to fighting for every neighbor, retailer and employer who is fed up with the Democrats’ ‘Criminals First’ public safety agenda.”

In a letter to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, Union Pacific officials expressed their displeasure with the state’s soft-on-crime policies.

See Related: Train Strikes, Kills Person On Tracks In Santa Clarita

“These individuals are generally caught and released back onto the streets in less than 24 hours,” read the letter from Union Pacific. “Criminals boast to our officers that charges will be pled down to simple trespassing – which bears no serious consequence.” 

In addition to the letter, Congressman Garcia and fellow lawmakers are reportedly taking the issue to a federal level as the freight theft in Los Angeles County nationally impacts the supply chain crisis and failure to prosecute such criminals furthers the problem, according to Garcia. 

“What we are seeing in California is the perfect storm— We have a failed criminal justice system and a District Attorney who cares more about taking care of the criminals rather than protecting law-abiding citizens,” Garcia said. “Until George Gascon stops acting like the Penguin from Gotham City and starts prosecuting those that have broken the law, I believe it is vital that the FBI and DOJ step in and provide federal assistance.”

In the letter sent to Congress, the lawmakers expressed the impact these cargo train robberies are having not only on California, but on the nation as it grapples with a nationwide supply chain crisis— emphasizing the vital need for federal assistance, according to Garcia.

“In addition, it is important to note that many of these purchases are not just delivered throughout the State of California, but also throughout the United States, affecting interstate and international commerce,” the lawmakers wrote. “Therefore, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) play a vital role in federally prosecuting the epidemic of robberies on all freight transportation.”

To read the full letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, click here.


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California Train Thieves Repeatedly ‘Caught And Released,’ Santa Clarita Politicians Respond

4 comments

  1. Democrats will not change the policies as these are exactly the results they expect. This is all about equity for the criminals. They have been very clear about that. This is part of their religion.

  2. Diverting blame is what Liberals are all about—-make equity makes losers all the same as decent hard working taxpayers!! Wake up, not Woke up Sheeple!!

    • I agree Bill with what you are saying, but we have to stop calling these people liberals, they are anything but liberal. Progressive, socialists, marxists, authoritarian, totalitarian, and mostly corporate fascists since the wealth distribution goes to all the billionaires who are all woke leftists. They stole the term liberal in the 1940’s because they could not pass anything under the guise of progressive or socialist back then, and to their strategic credit, they stole the term liberal. In my Oxford dictionary it says under the definition of liberal is: respectful and accepting of behaviour or opinions different from one’s own. Does that sound like any of these leftists who won’t even engage in a discussion, they just revert to name calling. I believe language is important since they use it against anyone who disagrees with them labeling people alt-right or far-right. They are even calling Glenn Greenwald a far-right journalist, and it’s totally B.S. because Glenn is an honest reporter whose roots are with the left.

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About Rachel Matta

Born and raised in Santa Clarita, Rachel Matta has always had a love for writing and media. The first time she ever smiled was actually while she was laying next to her mom as she flipped through the pages of a magazine. Upon graduating from high school in 2019, she chose to major in both journalism and political science at College of the Canyons with the intention of concentrating in news reporting. She began her journey at KHTS as a news intern in the summer of 2020 and officially joined the newsroom in the spring of 2021, intending to move forward with compassion and inquisition.