A suspected train thief was arrested in San Bernardino County on Thursday morning after police found hundreds of boxes of stolen Hot Wheels toys valued at more than $50,000.
“Yeah, they’re robbing the trains down here at the end of Maple Street,” a caller reported in audio shared by the police department on Facebook. The call came in at about 3 a.m.
A body-worn camera video shows an officer taking up a position near South 7th Street and South La Cadena Drive, where he said he could hear the suspect nearby.
“I can hear them loading up some boxes right now,” the officer said as he waited for the suspect to leave. Moments later, he added, “Alright, it looks like a black truck is pulling out right now.”
The officer ran back to his patrol car and pursued a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup. He pulled the vehicle over a short time later. The driver exited with his hands on his head and was taken into custody.
“We derailed his plans!” the Colton Police Department said in a celebratory Facebook post.
Police reported recovering 350 boxes, each containing multiple Hot Wheels vehicles. Investigators placed the total value of the merchandise at approximately $54,000.
The unidentified suspect was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and grand theft.
