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U.S. cargo theft events will rise again in 2025 after organized crime groups and opportunistic thieves spearheaded a near 50% spike in stolen goods last year, according to a report by Overhaul.
Incidents increased by 49% in 2024 including a 17% jump in stolen goods’ value, the data showed, with cargo theft now predicted to rise from 2,217 events in 2024 to 2,705 events in 2025.
In 2024, criminals employed sophisticated new tactics to target electronics, high-end retail goods and food supplies, leading to a 57% increase in deceptive pickups and a 63% increase in warehouse thefts.
“Cargo theft continues to show higher incidence near freight hubs and large cities,” Overhaul said in the report. “Mondays and Fridays showed the highest concentration of cargo crime at a combined 35% of incidents,” while “California and Texas remain top targets.”
Other key takeaways…
- Food and beverage thefts are rising, with incidents like the recent theft of 100,000 eggs in Pennsylvania signaling a growing risk for grocery retailers and everyday consumers.
- Rail and train yard thefts surged by 89%, with criminals exploiting security gaps in freight transport.
- Electronics was the most stolen product type among recorded cargo theft incidents, registering 24% of total thefts.
- From 2023 to 2024, facility theft jumped 63%, deceptive pickup went up 57%, and pilferage jumped 38% while last-mile courier and hijacking increased 29% and 22%, respectively.
Meanwhile, increasing cargo theft has shippers looking for new coverage.
Ninety percent of shippers opted for insurance in 2024, according to a recent Mothership study, after theft in the U.S. and Canada increased 14% year-over-year in the third quarter of the year, totaling more than $39 million of cargo on nearly 800 incidents.
Some incidents of freight theft can total $1 million in value or more alone.
“Cargo theft might involve entire truckloads or containers or only part of the shipment,” Mothership said in the study. “Cargo theft may include a hijacking when the truck or container is stopped or forced to stop along the route. Other cargo theft methods include a grab-and-run of a trailer’s contents when a truck is slowing down or stopped, the impersonation of a driver to steal entire loads in a fake pickup or burglary when the vehicle is left unattended.”
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