Bandits target trains in New Mexico

THE OLD WEST----TRAIN ROBBERS. THEY'RE ACTIVE AGAIN IN NEW MEXICO AND AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO...  More »

THE OLD WEST----TRAIN ROBBERS. THEY'RE ACTIVE AGAIN IN NEW MEXICO AND AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO TRACK THEM DOWN. JOE VIGIL IS LIVE WITH HOW THEY'RE MAKING OFF WITH SOME VERY EXPENSIVE LOOT. IT'S TONIGHT'S TOP STORY. JOE. BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE TRAIN OFFICIALS SAY THE THIEVES HAVE HIT THE LINE THAT RUNS FROM BELEN TO CALIFORNIA. BUT HOPE TO BRING THE TRAIN ROBBERIES TO END VERY SOON. THERE ARE PLENTY OF TRAINS TO TARGET ON THE LINE OUT OF BELEN TO CALIFORNIA. BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE RAIL OFFICIALS SAY AT LEAST 80 TRAINS USE THE LINE EVERYDAY. ...AND SOME OF THEIR LOADS ARE GETTING LIGHTER BECAUSE OF BANDITS. 'Very odd. Like we're going back in history.' DINO OTERO SEE THE TRAINS PASS ALL DAY AT THE MINI MART ON HIGHWAY SIX NEAR THE CIBOLA VALENCIA COUNTY LINE. ONE OF HIS CUSTOMERS SAW SOMETHING UNUSUAL ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. 'They just said they saw a lot of boxes of TVs sitting off the train on the ground.''They thought it was weird to see to see that.'RAIL OFFICIALS SAY THE TRAIN ROBBERS ARE SWIPING HIGH END ELECTRONICS FROM RAIL CARS--INCLUDING FLAT SCREEN TVS. WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD EXACTLY WHERE TRAINS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF OR EXACTLY HOW THE BANDITS ARE DOING IT. BUT REPORTEDLY THIEVES ARE FOLLOWING THE TRAINS WITH SUVS ....AND ARE USING GPS EQUIPMENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. WE'RE TOLD THEY'RE THEN USING A U- HAUL TO MOVE THEIR STASH ONCE THEY GET IT. HOWEVER BNSF RAIL OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE DISRUPTED THE OPERATION. AUTHORITIES BUSTED A HOME IN CALIFORNIA WHERE A LOT OF STOLEN GOODS TURNED UP...BUT NO BANDITS. RIGHT NOW THERES'S A TASK FORCE SET UP THAT INCLUDES OFFICIALS WITH BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE, UNION PACIFIC AND OTHER LOCAL AUTHORITIES. A B-N-S-F SPOKESPERSON TOLD ME TODAY HE THINKS THESE CRIMES WILL BE SOLVED RATHER QUICKLY. WINTER RETURNED TO NEW  « Less