JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Holiday periods are known for increased risk of cargo theft because cargo thieves look to exploit an abundance of unattended trucks and closed warehouse facilities. To preempt their activities, CargoNet analyzed theft trends from the Thursday before Memorial Day to the Tuesday after Memorial Day from 2013 to 2018. CargoNet is a Verisk product.

In this analysis period, CargoNet recorded 126 cargo thefts across the United States and Canada. Cargo theft was recorded in 24 states and provinces during this period, with the highest theft count in California followed by Florida and Texas. Cargo theft most commonly occurred on Friday and Saturday in this analysis. This is a common trend throughout the entire year as well1. In this analysis, 2013 had the highest theft count on record, with 27 recorded cargo thefts; but 2018 was the costliest year on record due to a theft of jewelry with a loss value of $5.7 million. The value of stolen cargo among all thefts exceeded $20.3 million for the entire analysis period.

Truckers can protect their trucks and cargo by avoiding leaving their equipment unattended in high-theft metropolitan areas and by using secured lots with high-visibility lighting, secure fences, and staffed security services. Truckers should also be on the lookout for vehicles following them as they leave warehouses with goods. Contact the local police to report any suspicious situations.

Noteworthy thefts from previous Memorial Day weekends

  • $5,700,000 in jewelry from a warehouse in Walton, Kentucky
  • $2,920,000 in cell phone accessories in Memphis, Tennessee (recovered)
  • $1,500,000 in tablets from a warehouse in Wilmington, Delaware
  • $1,200,000 in seafood from the port in Elizabeth, New Jersey (recovered)
  •  $900,000 in gaming systems from a carrier lot in Carson, California
  •  $600,000 in copper from an unsecured yard in Pennsylvania