Maybe the crimes are being committed by railroad police and they don't want a railfan to see them in action. Let's face it, we watch railroads like a hawk and we pop up all over the place at all times. If I'm a railroad police committing crimes that would concern me. Look at another fact, most railroad police are reasonable and professional. It's only a few oddballs (like Karcher) who aren't. If I have a clean conscience I'm not going to blow up at a railfan whose respectful (like hoborich was).Always thought it was strange how the thieves knew what was in where.
I'm in the janitorial service business. The joke is that whenever something is missing the janitor gets blamed. But the truth is security is involved more often than the janitors.