A daring train heist in Perrin, Arizona, has resulted in the theft of 1,985 pairs of the highly anticipated Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Brick by Brick”, valued at over $440,000. According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix, thieves allegedly cut an air brake hose on a BNSF freight train on January 13, 2025, bringing it to a halt before making off with the unreleased sneakers.
Per LA Times, The complaint suggests that such high-value shipments are often targeted with insider tips from warehouse or trucking company employees. In other cases, thieves scan containers for high-security locks, which they remove using bolt cutters or reciprocating saws.
Once the target is identified, “follow vehicles” track the train, coordinating the theft. The stolen cargo is either tossed off the train when it stops or hidden in nearby brush before being retrieved by awaiting vehicles. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent Brynna Cooke noted that these tactics are commonly used by transnational criminal groups, particularly those with ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa region.
This brazen robbery is part of a growing trend of organized crime targeting Nike shipments. Since March 2024, at least 10 freight train heists in California and Arizona have resulted in stolen Nike products worth approximately $2 million.
The Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4 “Brick by Brick” was set to release on March 14, 2025, with a retail price of $225 per pair. The sneaker community has been eagerly anticipating this drop, making the stolen pairs even more valuable on the resale market.
Photos provided by @gregyuna
