Detectives spotted stolen runDisney x Brooks sneakers for sale on eBay, bought a pair and followed the trail to a Los Angeles shop holding about $1 million in train cargo.
One pair of Disney running shoes on eBay just set off a very big police search.
Los Angeles police say stolen Brooks and Disney collaboration sneakers listed on eBay led detectives to about $1 million in shoes and backpacks taken from freight trains. The Los Angeles Police Department announced the case Monday, Oct. 26, and it picked up fresh attention this weekend on Disney fan sites.
NBC Los Angeles reported that detectives found “stolen shoes from a collaboration between Brooks and Disney being sold on eBay, according to the LAPD.” CBS Los Angeles called them “limited-edition runDisney x Brooks shoes.”
Turns out a Disney logo can double as a clue.
How did Disney running shoes help police find $1 million in stolen gear?
Detectives with the LAPD Commercial Crimes Division’s Cargo Theft Task Force saw the shoes for sale online. They made what’s called a controlled purchase, meaning police bought a pair themselves to see where it came from, MyNewsLA and FreightWaves reported.
That buy pointed them to a business called DesignerDeals4Less in the 21000 block of Nordhoff Street in Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley. Police served a search warrant there on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Inside, detectives found about 35 pallets of goods taken from BNSF Railway trains, according to CBS LA, NBC LA and MyNewsLA. The LAPD statement, as quoted by MyNewsLA, said the search “resulted in the recovery of $1 million in stolen BNSF Railroad train property.”
What was stolen besides the Brooks Disney shoes?
A lot of very nice sneakers. All four outlets listed shoes from Brooks, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, On and Salomon, plus JanSport backpacks.
That’s a warehouse’s worth of running gear that should have been sitting on store shelves.
Police haven’t said when or where the goods were taken off the trains, FreightWaves reported on Oct. 28. They also haven’t said which Brooks Disney shoe was listed, what it sold for or who was selling it.
Who was arrested in the train cargo case?
Police booked the business owner, Heros Tasci, 51, of Simi Valley, at the Van Nuys Jail on suspicion of receiving stolen property, according to CBS LA, NBC LA, MyNewsLA and FreightWaves. FreightWaves cited California Penal Code 496(a).
CBS LA reported that Tasci admitted buying the goods from illegitimate distributors. Other outlets didn’t carry that detail, and no outlet quoted him. An arrest isn’t a conviction, and we found no report of formal charges as of Saturday.
A long list of agencies helped. MyNewsLA and FreightWaves named BNSF Police, Union Pacific Railroad Police, Alameda Belt Line Police, Los Angeles Port Police, Los Angeles World Airports Police, Homeland Security Investigations and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation. CBS LA also listed the FBI.
BNSF declined to talk about this case, FreightWaves said. A railroad spokesperson told the outlet in general that “these criminal acts disrupt the movement of goods, increase costs for consumers and businesses.”
What are runDisney Brooks shoes?
Brooks is the official running shoe partner of runDisney, the Disney race program at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. For race weekends, Brooks puts out limited-edition shoes themed to Disney characters and events.
Runners chase them. Popular editions can sell out, and pairs often show up on resale sites. That’s part of why a stolen pair on eBay might not raise eyebrows with buyers. It did raise them with police.
Brooks has put out themed pairs for weekends like Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, which comes around again in January.
How can you avoid buying stolen sneakers online?
Police didn’t give shopping tips with this case. But a few common-sense checks help when you’re hunting for a sold-out pair.
Be careful with brand-new, in-box shoes priced way under what similar pairs go for.
Check the seller’s history and whether they’re selling the same new item in lots of sizes.
Buy limited releases from Brooks, runDisney partners or well-known resale sites when you can.
One eBay listing, 35 pallets of gear. That’s a lot of mileage out of a single pair of sneakers.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
NBC Los Angeles (Oct. 26, 2026), the eBay detail and arrest
CBS Los Angeles (Oct. 26, 2026), the location, pallets and runDisney shoe description
MyNewsLA (Oct. 26, 2026), the LAPD statement and controlled purchase
FreightWaves (Oct. 28, 2026), the penal code, agencies and BNSF statement
WDW News Today (Oct. 31, 2026), the story lead
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