Jarring video from a news helicopter in Chicago Friday captured a gang of thieves ransacking a freight cargo train moments before they were confronted by cops with their guns drawn.
Chopper 7 with ABC Chicago was on the scene as a group of ransackers made their way through a train in the South Austin neighborhood on the west side of Chicago.
The plunder included televisions and air fryers, according to a CBS News report.
Officials said the railway is no stranger to these types of freight cargo thefts – but rarely, if ever, are they caught live on television.
Footage rolls on the crooks as they pull boxes from the cargo trailer on the Union Pacific owned tracks just before 4 p.m. The group climbs over each other to dole out the loot.
Police officers were eventually called to the scene and a confrontation with the highwaymen was caught live on television. Officers swarmed with their guns drawn as some suspects tried to make away in their cars.
The scene was so shocking that one news anchor asked to “break away” from the live shot as officers approached the apparent thieves – fearing that there could be a shooting live on air.
The other anchor instead instructs the chopper cameraman to “pull out”, saying “we’re gonna stay with this,” as the scene plays out.
There were no reports of shots fired and there have been no reports of arrests made.
Less than an hour after officers and looters left the scene – Chicago’s ABC7 caught more people breaking into train cars.
There was a similar break-in back in August – where thieves broke into cargo trains and stole multiple televisions, according to police.
A Union Pacific spokesperson said, “Rail burglaries pose a safety threat to the public, our employees and local law enforcement officers.”
