LOS ANGELES (Dispatches) -- In a bizarre development, rail thefts have witnessed an unprecedented surge in Los Angeles County, with thieves climbing cargo trains, breaking into containers and stealing packages, according to reports. Union Pacific, a freight-hauling railroad that operates in 23 U.S. states, in a statement on Sunday said it had seen rail thefts increase by 160% in the county over the past year. According to a report by AFP, many major U.S. mail order and courier companies such as Amazon, Target, UPS and FedEx are being hit by the thefts.