Railroad thefts and guns: A deadly mix in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) — Three major thefts of guns from trains at a South Side Chicago rail yard have happened in a part of the city that’s been plagued by the kind of deadly violence that led to 762 homicides last year.

Chicago leaders regularly blamed the violence on flows of illegal guns from states with less restrictive gun laws. But community leaders say no one seems to be taking responsibility for the thefts of guns from trains parked in the city.

All three thefts were from the same Norfolk Southern 63rd Street Rail Yard. And court records suggest most of the stolen guns made it into surrounding high-crime communities.

Norfolk Southern spokeswoman Susan Terpay says the company is “doing everything” it can to prevent thefts, including adding more patrols.

 

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