JERSEY CITY, N.J. - In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, CargoNet examined trucking vehicle theft data and cargo theft data in the United States and Canada from December 23 to January 2 for the years 2012 to 2016. In total, 146 incidents were reported to CargoNet. The most incidents, 51, occurred during the 2012 holiday season (December 23, 2012, through January 2, 2013) followed by the 2014 holiday season, with 41 reported incidents. In total, CargoNet recorded $5.8 million in cargo losses in this analysis. A total of 97 cargo theft incidents were recorded along with 78 stolen trailers and 64 stolen tractors.  An exact date of loss was known for 87 of the 146 incidents. We found that theft most commonly occurred on December 29 and January 1, with 11 incidents each. December 24 followed closely, with 10 reported incidents. In some cases, cargo or vehicles are left unattended over multiple days; and if there are no witnesses, surveillance, or other documentation, such as toll logs or GPS logs, CargoNet cannot obtain an exact loss date. Such thefts were filtered out when discussing the day that losses occurred.  Texas had the most reported thefts, 31, in this analysis. Georgia trailed Texas, with 20 thefts; and California followed Georgia closely, with 19 thefts. We also examined cargo theft alone and found that Texas and Georgia still led, with 19 and 16 reported incidents, respectively. The top five states for cargo theft incidents also included New Jersey (11 reported cargo thefts), California (10 reported cargo thefts), and Arkansas (8 reported cargo thefts).  Food and beverage products were involved in more cargo thefts than any other commodity by slightly more than three to one. CargoNet recorded 31 cargo thefts involving food and beverage products; the average food and beverage loss was worth $62,717. More specifically, cargo thieves targeted meat products (11 thefts) and nonalcoholic beverages (6 thefts). Apparel and accessories were the next-most common category of losses, with 10 cargo thefts. But the average loss value, worth $457,293, far exceeded all other categories. CargoNet recorded 9 cargo thefts of both commercial and industrial items and metals, and 8 thefts of both electronics and household items.  Most of the incidents reported to CargoNet occurred at an unsecured location such as a parking lot, truck stop, or warehouse. While it’s likely truck stops and big-box stores have surveillance video, cargo theft frequently occurs at night under the cover of darkness. Night vision cameras often have a very limited range. Anecdotally, the CargoNet Command Center has found that most of the surveillance video provided was poor-quality and of limited use in an investigation. Physical security measures, such as high-visibility lighting, secured yards, high-security locks, and security staff, are the best theft deterrents. (Click Here to View the Cargo Theft Trends Infographic and Security Tips) Noteworthy thefts from previous Holiday Season weeks:
  • $1,000,000 theft of apparel and accessories from a warehouse in Newark, NJ 
  • $1,000,000 theft of footwear from a secured yard in Edison, NJ 
  • $599,6000 theft of footwear from a secured yard in Long Beach, CA
  • $250,000 theft of wine from a parking lot in Orlando, FL 
  • $205,000 theft of food and beverages from an unsecured yard in Hanover Park, IL