Three men charged with burglary after drone catches them stealing from shipping container

Gunner Finezit Media

04 Jan 2026 — 1 min read

From a stolen load of lobsters to local warehouses filled with robbed supplements and food, just some of the cargo thefts that happened in recent days.

Now, the Cook County sheriff's Office and rail operators are trying to fight back.

High above the Norfolk Southern rail lines that run through Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, a drone patrolling for cargo thieves spots three people riding the moving train just days before Christmas.

The office said the men broke into a shipping container around 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 19, and threw several packages down to street level. As the men tried to get away, deputies quickly moved in and arrested all three.

They were identified by police as Shaun Smythe, 25, of Calumet City, Marcus Moore, 26, and Errol Miller, 44, both of Chicago. All three were charged with felony burglary, and Miller was additionally charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding.

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