Officials recovered more than $2 million of BNSF Railway property stolen in the High Desert from several properties in South Gate and Paramount on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Local and federal authorities served seven search warrants as part of an ongoing investigation by the Rural Crimes Task Force into train burglaries in the Victor Valley, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department statement issued Monday.
Law enforcement officials served the first search warrant at 6 a.m. in the 4900 block of Mason Street in South Gate, where they found a large locked room inside a body shop that had stolen BNSF property inside, the Sheriff’s Department’s Lucerne Valley Station said.
Evidence from the property led investigators to serve two more search warrants at a business and home across the street, where three South Gate men were arrested.
The search warrants also led investigators to another home in Paramount, where they found more stolen BNSF property, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Officials then gathered evidence that led to a storage facility. After serving two search warrants on storage units, they found more stolen BNSF property, the Sheriff’s Department said.
A seventh warrant was served at a home with additional stolen cargo recovered, the Sheriff’s Department said.
All recovered property, which is estimated to be worth more than $2.1 million, was returned to BNSF and will be returned to its owners, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Officials ask anyone with information to contact 760-248-7328 or leave an anonymous tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).
