Letter to Hon. Merrick Garland, Attorney General of the United States - Mike Garcia, Lawmakers Send letter to Attorney General Garland in Response to Train Looting

Letter

Dear Attorney General Merrick Garland,

As you are aware from recent reports, organized crime groups continue to wreak havoc across
California. Organized retail theft and violence are causing many new safety and consumer risks.
Now we are seeing the same organized attacks on cargo trains. These attacks continue, without
penalty, thanks to the state's disastrous progressive policies and lack of criminal prosecution.
The effects of the continued theft and looting are felt throughout the country.

The supply chain crisis has created a new wave of violence at railroad tracks in Lincoln Heights.
Organized groups are now stealing packages, equipment, and other important products from
railroad cars in Los Angeles County. According to Union Pacific, there has been a 160%
increase in thefts along railroad tracks in L.A. County since December 2020 and there is growing
concern that this vandalism is being committed by well-organized crime organizations.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Omicron variant spreading throughout Southern
California, many individuals have used e-commerce to buy products instead of going to local
stores. Some of these purchases include COVID-19 tests, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
electronics, and food products -- which are out of stock at many of our local stores due to supply
chain shortages. Freight transportation has been vital to ensuring these products get to consumers
and retailers, especially given the shortage of truck drivers in California.

In addition, it is important to note that many of these purchases are not just delivered throughout
the State of California, but also throughout the United States, affecting interstate and
international commerce. Therefore, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) play a vital role in federally prosecuting the epidemic of robberies on all freight transportation.

Should this criminal activity continue, access to PPE and other important items may be scarce.
Action is needed, and a continued lack of urgency will lead to further crime and delays of
necessary items to consumers.
We urge you to expeditiously prosecute and hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable.
Bottlenecks at our local ports and the soft-on-crime approaches by the Los Angeles District
Attorney have contributed to these types of thefts in our local communities. Your office must use
every tool available to end this type of violence and organized crime.

Thank you in advance for your response and your timely attention to this matter.

Sincerely,