Last week, local law enforcement and federal agents conducting an ongoing cargo theft investigation involving BNSF Railway in Northern Arizona received a report of a train burglary in progress near Meteor Crater, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office reported.

BNSF personnel witnesses several individuals removing merchandise from a stopped train and loading it into two vehicles parked alongside the tracks. Detectives located one of the vehicles, a van, leaving the area and conducted a traffic stop which led to the arrest of two suspects.

Deputies in the Williams Patrol District later located a box truck matching the description provided by BNSF conductors traveling westbound on Interstate 40. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, the driver failed to yield. The vehicle crashed, and two unidentified male suspects fled on foot and remain at large.

The value of the recovered stolen property exceeds $500,000.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with BNSF Railway and other law enforcement partners, continues to investigate cargo theft crimes in Northern Arizona.