The theft of Nike sneakers is nothing new. Sneakers "falling off a truck" has been happening since the 80s, if not earlier, but it seems to be hitting new levels late. With sneaker reselling at an all-time high, criminals are motivated to steal shoes more than ever.
In June, an LAPD sting operation uncovered a warehouse full of $7 million worth of Nike sneakers, which may be just the tip of the iceberg. Theft occurs at all production line stops, from the factory to the retail store. Last week, police in Memphis arrested 2 men for stealing $400,00 worth of Nike inventory from a train car. Memphis PD responded to a call of multiple suspects clad in ski masks carrying boxes out of the train cars. After a brief chase, police apprehended two suspects and charged them with the robbery. In total, 18 cases of Nike shoes were found during an investigation of the crime scene.
While it's doubtful that this will be the last time we hear a story like this. As long as a product holds a demand, those will try to obtain it by any means. While Nike may ultimately end up being made whole by their insurance company, situations like this eventually lead to release delays and higher consumer prices. For more coverage on the sneaker industry, follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Image via WREG Memphis