Los Angeles police recovered approximately $1 million in stolen railroad cargo after tracing shoes advertised for sale on eBay. Investigators uncovered 35 pallets of BNSF Railroad property during an October 21 search of a local business. The merchandise included athletic footwear and backpacks from several major brands. Authorities arrested the business owner following the discovery.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced the recovery on October 26. Detectives identified DesignerDeals4Less in the 21000 block of Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth, a Los Angeles neighborhood within the San Fernando Valley. Officers discovered merchandise from Brooks, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, ON, Salomon and JanSport. The discovery follows a separate $1 million railroad cargo recovery at a Whittier shoe retailer earlier in October.
An online shoe sale leads detectives to stolen cargo
The investigation began after detectives discovered stolen Brooks/Disney collaborative shoes advertised for sale on eBay. Investigators arranged a controlled purchase, which helped establish a connection to DesignerDeals4Less. That transaction led authorities to obtain a search warrant for the Los Angeles business. In August, deputies recovered more than $123,000 in Brooks shoes following a separate BNSF boxcar burglary near Ludlow, California. Two days later, deputies recovered more than $150,000 in New Balance shoes following another BNSF boxcar burglary near Daggett, California. Authorities have not established a connection between those recoveries and the Los Angeles investigation.
Under eBay’s stolen property policy, sellers cannot list merchandise obtained through theft. The company maintains a process for law enforcement to request records during criminal investigations. The federal INFORM Consumers Act also requires marketplaces to verify identifying information from qualifying high-volume sellers. LAPD has not disclosed whether eBay provided records or whether those federal requirements helped identify the business. FreightWaves contacted eBay to determine whether the company assisted investigators or took action against the seller’s account. The company had not responded before publication.
Detectives contacted the business owner while executing the warrant on October 21. According to LAPD, the individual acknowledged purchasing stolen railroad merchandise through unauthorized distribution sources. Police identified him as Heros Tasci, 51, of Simi Valley, California. Officers arrested Tasci and transported him to Van Nuys Jail. Tasci is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Authorities booked Tasci under California Penal Code Section 496(a), which addresses receiving stolen property. The department has not announced additional arrests connected to this investigation. Police have not publicly identified the distributors who supplied the merchandise.
Multiple agencies participate in cargo theft investigation
The LAPD Commercial Crimes Division’s Cargo Theft Task Force coordinated the operation alongside several law enforcement partners. BNSF Police, Union Pacific Railroad Police and Alameda Belt Line Police participated in the investigation. Los Angeles Port Police and Los Angeles World Airport Police also assisted. Homeland Security Investigations joined the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation in supporting the operation. The recovery follows a separate BNSF train burglary in Colton, California, where police recovered approximately $54,000 in stolen Hot Wheels merchandise.
BNSF Railway declined to comment on the specific investigation when contacted by FreightWaves. “These criminal acts disrupt the movement of goods, increase costs for consumers and businesses,” BNSF stated. The company also emphasized its ongoing collaboration with law enforcement to combat cargo theft.
LAPD has not disclosed when or where the merchandise was originally stolen from BNSF trains. Authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the thefts. Investigators also have not confirmed how many shipments contributed to the recovered inventory. The department has not explained how the products reached DesignerDeals4Less. FreightWaves contacted LAPD for additional details but had not received a response before publication.
The investigation remains ongoing, with detectives seeking additional information about the stolen merchandise. Anyone with relevant details can contact LAPD’s Commercial Crimes Division at 213-486-8766. Investigators accept calls during regular business hours, from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. Anonymous tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Why it matters
Stolen freight can reenter commercial distribution channels through businesses purchasing merchandise from unauthorized sources. This recovery highlights how investigators can trace stolen products through online marketplaces and identify additional cargo.
Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.
Police recover $54K in Hot Wheels after BNSF freight train burglary in California – FreightWaves
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