Memphis Man Arrested After $17,000 Train Heist Involving Stolen TVs and Shoes

Memphis Man Arrested for Stealing $17,000 Worth of Goods from Train

In the bustling city of Memphis, a man has found himself in a whole lot of trouble after being accused of a big-time theft that took place back in April. It’s one of those stories that sounds a bit out of a movie, but it’s all too real. On the night of April 23, police received a call at about 8:54 p.m. about some shady characters breaking into containers on a CSX train parked in Midtown.

The Late-Night Heist

So, picture this: when the officer arrived on the scene, the train was still moving, but not too far away. As they made their way to the end of York, a white Chevrolet cargo van with a black hood came zooming towards them at breakneck speed—lights off, of course! The officer had to leap out of the way to avoid getting run over. Can you imagine? That’s got to be a heart-pounding moment!

The van sped off east on York and then south on Cooper until it vanished from sight. But the story doesn’t end there. As officers started searching the area, they discovered numerous items strewn along the railroad tracks. Among the treasures were Tory Burch shoes and a whopping 18 televisions—both 50-inch Insignia models and 43-inch TCL models. The total value of everything stolen? A staggering $17,100!

Investigative Work Unfolds

Fast forward to April 29, when police tracked down that suspicious van. It turns out it belonged to a man named Antonio Jackson. Thanks to Jackson’s probation officer, who regularly checked in with him, authorities got a heads-up on where to find him. They swiftly arrived at an address on the 4000 block of Barron Avenue to find Jackson hanging out right by the very van that had made a break for it.

But it gets even more interesting! The police decided to dig a little deeper and obtained a search warrant for Jackson’s cell phone records. When they analyzed the data, they discovered something eye-opening. On June 15, the records showed that Jackson’s phone had pinged right around the York and Tanglewood area during the very time the theft was occurring.

Jackson Facing Serious Charges

The evidence was adding up, and to make matters worse, his phone records confirmed that he was present at the scene at the time the van nearly collided with the police officer. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time—for the officer, at least!

Now, the 41-year-old has been charged with a mix of serious offenses, including Burglary/Boxcar, Theft of Property, Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon, and Interference with Property Utilized by Railroads. That’s a heavy list of charges, and Jackson is slated to appear in court Thursday morning. As of now, we don’t have any information about his bond status, but you can bet everyone will be watching this case closely!

The Community Watches and Waits

As Memphis residents digest this bizarre story, it’s a friendly reminder that crime can pop up in the most unexpected places. It also goes to show how quick and effective the police can be when working to serve and protect the community. With Jackson’s court date approaching, folks are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this strange saga.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds. In the meantime, let’s keep this city safe and sound, one day at a time!