Nigel Sylvester’s Air Jordan 4 Brick by Brick Targeted in Arizona and California Train Heists
Published
Theft in the supply chain has been a hot topic over the last few years. In yet another instance of Nike sneakers being targeted by thieves, the LA Times has reported on a string of at least 10 different heists involving trains in California and Arizona since last March, resulting in about $2 million in stolen Nike sneakers.
The methods typically employed by train thieves are detailed throughout the article. Crews will scout high-value merchandise by employees who work at the warehouse, trucking companies, or the train itself and board these trains when they slow down or make stops. It’s easy to determine which containers have high-value items as they’ll have high-security locks, which the thieves will open with saws or bolt cutters.
Once the loot is secured, thieves will alert “follow vehicles.” The stolen goods are then tossed off the train after it comes to a halt, either for a stop or by nefarious means like an air hose being cut or sabotaged control wires. After this, the cargo is loaded into box trucks and taken away.
In one of the most recent instances of train theft, 1,985 pairs of Nike sneakers, many of which are reportedly Nigel Sylvester’s upcoming Air Jordan 4 Brick by Brick, were stolen, totaling $440,000 worth of product. Aside from this incident, we recently saw over $1 million worth of stolen Nike and New Balance sneakers recovered in Chicago and $200,000 of the Air Jordan 11 Legend Blue found by the California Highway Patrol.
According to the LA Times, 65,000 railroad cargo thefts in 2024, a 40% increase from 2023, have cost rail companies more than $100 million. Overall, theft in the supply chain continues to rise. CargoNet reported that in 2024, there was a 27% increase in thefts compared to 2023, with the average value per theft also increasing from $187,895 to over $200,000.
Hopefully, Nike and/or shipping companies can increase security to prevent instances like this from occurring. Not only does this harm Nike’s bottom line, but consumers will also have less opportunity to secure sneakers when released to the public. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app for more updates on the latest releases, raffles, and news in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
