59 Pallets Of Stolen Nike Shoes, Yeti Products, Vacuums Seized In LA County Cargo Theft Bust: Police

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Whittier shoe store owner was arrested after investigators recovered about $1 million worth of stolen railroad cargo from the business, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Detectives served a search warrant Wednesday at Shoes n Shoes in Whittier as part of an investigation by the LAPD Commercial Crimes Division's Cargo Theft Task Force, police said.

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Investigators recovered 59 pallets of merchandise stolen from BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad trains, according to police.

The recovered cargo included Yeti cups and jugs; Nike, New Balance, Brooks and Sanuk shoes; JanSport backpacks; and Shark vacuums, police said.

Detectives contacted business owner Waseem Saman while serving the warrant. Police said Saman told investigators that he purchased much of the store's inventory from brokers or middlemen who were not legitimate distributors for the brands.

The 45-year-old Placentia resident was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property and booked at Van Nuys Jail, according to police.

The operation involved investigators from the LAPD, Union Pacific Railroad Police, BNSF Police, Alameda Belt Line Police, Los Angeles Port Police and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation.