We’ve seen a lot of problems with the supply chain leading to delays of packages and bare shelves. Joe Biden has claimed success, despite the bare shelves and despite the same number of ships backed up in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that were stuck there when he announced that he would be formally addressing the issue last year.

But ships and trucks having issues aren’t the only problem.

Photojournalist John Schreiber for CBS’ LA affiliate posted an eye-opening thread about train burglaries in Los Angeles. The thread has gone viral, with the initial video gaining over 5.6 million views. The stunning visuals are something else, showing empty Amazon bags and boxes, and UPS parcels strewn all over the tracks. If you’re missing a package, this might be the reason why.

Keep hearing of train burglaries in LA on the scanner so went to #LincolnHeights to see it all. And… there’s looted packages as far as the eye can see. Amazon packages, @UPS boxes, unused Covid tests, fishing lures, epi pens. Cargo containers left busted open on trains. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/JvNF4UVy2K

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022

I’m told by law enforcement these @UPS bags are especially sought after by thieves opening cargo containers… they are often full of boxes with merchandise bound for residential addresses. More valuable than say, a cargo container full of low value bulky items like toilet paper. pic.twitter.com/Tj5bQNIeby

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022

Schreiber said he found a lot of things bound for the Northwest on the tracks.

So, how does this possibly happen, you ask? The trains slow down and stop in that area as they are waiting to get into the nearby facility. The thieves then break into the containers and take whatever they can.

As you can see, trains frequently slow or stop in this area as they get worked into the @UnionPacific Intermodal facility near Downtown LA. The thieves use this opportunity to break open containers and take what’s inside. I’d say every 4th or 5th rail car had opened containers. pic.twitter.com/PHpujyB84M

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022

As you look at the remains left all over the tracks, consider this. This is just 30 days’ worth of thefts, and this is just one area being hit.

Missing a package? Shipment delayed? Maybe your package is among the thousands we found discarded along the tracks. This is but one area thieves have targeted trains. We were told this area was just cleaned up 30 days ago so what you see is all within the last month. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/43002DPyZa

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 13, 2022

The fact that these thefts are going on is rather obvious — it’s spread out all over the tracks. So, what have they been doing to try to stop this? The LAPD isn’t responsible for policing the trains — the Union Pacific has their own police. They are arresting people and trying to chase people away. But it’s Los Angeles, so there’s a small problem — as soon as they arrest the people, they’re back out and likely back at it.

Responsibility for policing the railroad right of way falls on Union Pacific Police… not local agencies like LAPD. We did see Union Pacific police chasing two people today off the tracks and keeping an eye on things. pic.twitter.com/M5aQSrkGZW

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 14, 2022

They’ve arrested 100 people in three months, according to Schreiber, but then they’re “released within 24 hours” and back out on the tracks.

New Today: My colleague @CBSLAKristine spoke with @UnionPacific about train theft and they forwarded her this letter they sent to LA County DA in December. UP says they arrested > 100 people in last 3 months but many were fined and released within 24 hours. https://t.co/YyqKkxvaWE

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 14, 2022

And now @CBSLAKristine has the LA County DA’s response to Union Pacific’s claims. DA says some cases have moved forward… others lack sufficient evidence. https://t.co/IOWBvuOoRy

— John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) January 15, 2022

There are 90 containers breached a day, theft up 356 percent, according to Union Pacific. UP is now considering rerouting its trains out of LA county, so they don’t have to deal with this, but are begging the DA to be harder on the thieves.

The DA says some of the cases are moving forward but some are dismissed for “lack of sufficient evidence.” Maybe they need to check the evidence that’s all over the tracks? Notice they don’t say how much of each in response. I’m willing to bet far more dismissed than moving ahead.

Union Pacific is saying they haven’t been contacted about any court proceedings, which indicates that the response from the LA County DA is likely a lot of gas.

The problem is that given it’s Los Angeles — even with “evidence,” if it’s just a theft charge, it’s likely that it will often just be dismissed. We’ve written at some length about the great failures of the radical approach of Los Angeles County D.A. George Gascon who seems to think his role is to protect the criminal. Unfortunately, it’s a problem with leftist DAs now taking over in high-profile positions across the country.

When you don’t address the problem, this is the kind of result you get.