Cargo theft is on the rise, according to a global firm specializing in supply chain risk management services.
Overhaul reports that while southern California saw a 5% drop in theft activity during December, thieves appeared to have relocated their focus to other areas. Major metropolitan regions such as Memphis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Dallas-Fort Worth experienced an increase in cargo theft last month—a trend anticipated to continue.
Unlike in November, December saw theft incidents concentrating from Wednesday through Friday rather than being evenly distributed across the week. However, weekends remained high-risk periods, with Saturday and Sunday each accounting for over 10% of weekly thefts, a consistent pattern since October 2024. Overhaul warns that leaving cargo unattended during weekends remains a major vulnerability.
Analysis of theft timing showed no significant changes, with most incidents occurring between 4 p.m. and midnight.
Notably, there was a 13% rise in last-mile courier thefts and fraudulent pickups in December. While these specific incidents are expected to decrease, cargo theft as a whole will remain a pressing issue in the early months of the year, with pilferage, facility thefts, and full truckload thefts being the primary challenges.
Overhaul revealed that 27% of thefts happened at warehouses or distribution centers, while 23% took place at company yards. Electronics remained the top target, making up 33% of stolen goods, followed by home and garden supplies at 23%.
