FedEx truck targeted by thieves who stop traffic to pillage packages

Those who took part in the robbery left the street littered with boxes before fleeing the scene with their loot. Three suspects were located sitting in a nearby vehicle and apprehended.

According to WREG, the incident took place just after 2 a.m. at the intersection of Riverport Road and Mallory Avenue in South Memphis.

Footage shows dozens of young men grabbing whatever they can out of the back of the 53-foot trailer before running off. The truck, surrounded by vehicles, is unable to move. The delivery driver explained that he had sealed the trailer with a safety latch, but that thieves had somehow managed to break it.

During the incident, a nearby apartment complex was placed on lockdown, and residents were told to shelter in place. When things calmed down, security guards noticed three men sitting inside a white vehicle that reeked of marijuana.

The guards searched the vehicle, and uncovered four speakers, one headlight, a 14-piece pots and pans set, and three DirectTV cable boxes. The suspects admitted that the items were from the truck, but added that they had simply picked them up from the side of the road, and hadn't broken into the trailer themselves. Nonetheless, they were taken into custody.

"The safety of our team members and the security of our customers' shipments are top priorities, and we are grateful there were no serious injuries as a result of this incident," FedEx said in a statement the following day. "We are cooperating fully with investigating authorities and taking appropriate steps to address this matter."

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland slammed the soft-on-crime policies enacted in his city, saying, "The court system needs fundamental change to adjust to what’s going on out in the community. The police are arresting them. The courts won't keep them."