LOS ANGELES – (INT) – An effort to clean-up Union Pacific Railroad tracks littered by thieves who broke into parked container cars is being expanded.

Governor Newsom announced Thursday that Caltrans crews will assist while the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will join local authorities in the investigation and participate in prevention efforts.

Newsom’s ‘Real Public Safety Plan’ rolled out in December includes $255 million in grants for local law enforcement.

The Plan calls for the creation of a permanent Smash and Grab Enforcement Unit operated by CHP that will work with local law enforcement to crack down on organized rail, retail and auto theft to increase presence at retail locations and combat organized retail crime.

A dedicated state team of special investigators and prosecutors in the Attorney General’s Office would be created to prosecute cross-jurisdictional theft-related crimes.

Story Date: January 31, 2022