Arizona’s Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies have responded to a string of high-tech cargo burglaries following two separate but similar incidents involving professional theft rings.

YCSO, in collaboration with federal agencies, continues to investigate the incidents and is working to identify suspects linked to an organized criminal network based out of California.

The first incident occurred in Ash Fork on Tuesday, April 14. A semi-truck transporting a high-value load of tech from California made a stop at a truck stop off Interstate 40. Detectives discovered that a pair of Sprinter-style vans followed the semi into the parking lot. In a highly coordinated move, the suspects waited for the driving team to enter the store before breaching the trailer doors. In just 11 minutes, the thieves transferred four pallets into the waiting vans. The stolen merchandise is valued between $150,000 and $175,000.

YCSO detectives learned that two sprinter vans, one grey and one white, were involved in the heist.

The second heist occurred at approximately 5 am on April 20, 2026, when authorities responded to a call from BNSF Railway regarding a burglarized railcar. The suspects appeared to have planned and executed a sophisticated attack on the train.

The investigation revealed that the tactics used in both incidents resemble the operations of an illegal criminal alien organization based out of Southern California.

The Sheriff’s Office is requesting any information regarding Sprinter-style vans operating without license plates, or any suspicious activity near I-40 Truck Stops or rail lines.