California Gov. Newsom rolls out theft prevention effort at UP rail yards

California Gov. Gavin Newsom last week announced a multi-agency effort in conjunction with Union Pacific Railroad to combat a recent surge in Los Angeles rail-car thefts.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will help UP clean up the area, while the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will coordinate with local law enforcement to further prevent railway theft in Los Angeles, Newsom announced at a press conference held near UP track in California.

"We're stepping things up, and we're not condoning what happened here," Newsom said. "We need to hold people accountable, and we need to do better helping each other."

Last month, Newsom rolled out his Real Public Safety Plan, which addresses rail theft and calls for bolstering local law enforcement response and supporting prosecutors in holding perpetrators accountable, California officials said. The plan provides $255 million in grants for law enforcement to increase presence at retail locations to combat organized retail crime, as well as $18 million to create a dedicated team of investigators and prosecutors to address theft crimes.

Under the plan, CHP would also operate a permanent Smash and Grab Enforcement Unit to crack down on rail, retail and auto theft.

"We are confident these collective steps and partnerships will ensure we can safely and securely transport the products our communities rely upon," said Scott Moore, UP senior vice president and chief administrative officer, in a post on UP's Inside Track website.