Theft of sneakers from train goes off-track, three arrested

CHICAGO, Ill. – Three men were arrested Saturday in an attempted theft of nearly $9,000 worth of sneakers from a railroad box car, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Frederick A. Young, 28, Jeremie Bolden and John D. Luckett, both 26, are facing felony burglary charges for breaking into the box car while a Union Pacific train was stopped at a depot in Chicago late Friday night.  Young and Luckett also face a possession of burglary tools charge for having bolt cutters and a head-mounted flashlight.

Once inside the train, the men reportedly made off with 62 pairs of sneakers bundled in nine large boxes and valued at $8,849.38, according to court records.

A witness alerted authorities to the accused burglars’ presence on the tracks, and police reportedly found the men together with the stolen goods in hand.  The trio was arrested early Saturday morning.