[geoduck14]

>Getting caught means being charged federally and the statue carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Very few people (you plus one other) have mentioned that messing with interstate transportation is a federal crime. Which makes me think there is more to this that meets the eye.

Why have the news been focusing on local prosecutors if this is a federal matter? Why haven't federal prosecutors pressing charges?

[analog31]

I noticed in one article that the railroad referred to the crime as "vandalism." It could be that they are using charges such as trespassing and vandalism, rather than outright theft, to bring it under the purview of local authorities.