Around 3 a.m. near Maple Street in Colton, California, an unidentified caller contacted police to report a theft in progress from a freight train. “Yeah, they’re robbing the trains down here at the end of Maple Street,” the caller said, according to audio shared in a Colton Police Department social-media video. Officers responded and ultimately recovered 350 boxes of Hot Wheels toy cars with an estimated total value of $54,000, according to police.
How the Arrest Unfolded
A listening officer, a departing truck, and a traffic stop brought the alleged burglary to a close within minutes of the first call.
An officer positioned near South 7th Street and South La Cadena Drive reported to dispatch that he could hear boxes being loaded nearby. The officer then observed a black Chevrolet Silverado pulling away from the area, according to Colton police. Officers stopped the pickup without any reported incident, and body-camera footage released by the department showed the driver exiting the vehicle with his hands on his head.
Police said merchandise was recovered from the pickup and that additional boxes were found in the surrounding area, with officials reporting 350 boxes recovered in total. At roughly $154 per box, the estimated $54,000 total reflected the scale of a commercial-cargo operation rather than a small retail theft. Colton police said detectives continued the investigation following the initial arrest.
Charges Filed, Questions Remain Open
The suspect was booked on multiple allegations, released on bail, and the investigation into possible additional suspects remains active.
The suspect, described by the Orange County Register as a 20-year-old male, was booked into West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, and grand theft, according to Colton police and NBC Los Angeles. Bail was set at $60,000, according to the Register, which attributed that figure to Colton Police Sgt. Mike Sandoval. County jail records cited by the Register indicated the suspect was later released on bail.
Colton police said detectives were investigating whether additional suspects were involved in the alleged burglary. The cargo owner and the precise method used to access the BNSF freight containers were not identified in available reporting. The suspect’s name was not publicly released.
