A total of 140 cargo theft incidents were reported — a 22 percent year-over-year decrease — for an estimated total loss of $12.8 million, according to CargoNet.
Cargo thefts recorded in the first quarter of 2019 across the U.S. and Canada dropped 22 percent year-over-year to 140 such incidents for a total estimated loss of $12.8 million, according to supply chain security firm CargoNet.
Food and beverage remained the most stolen commodity category but experienced a year-over-year decrease of more than 22 percent. Nonalcoholic beverages were the most stolen type of food and beverage freight. Household cargo and electronics cargo were the second and third most stolen, with tools, lawn care products and major appliances being the most stolen household items and television and computers being the most stolen electronics.
California remained the most targeted state with 32 reported cargo thefts, which was down nearly 44 percent. Florida (17) and Texas (16) were second and third in cargo thefts. Alabama saw a “significant increase” of cargo theft “due largely to an influx of pilferages in the Selma, Alabama area,” CargoNet reported.
Its analysts found loaded trailer burglaries should be viewed as a growing threat and as the preferred method of stealing cargo over full-truckload theft. A resurgence of fictitious pickup activity following two years of dormancy also was noted among its analysts, it said.
“We believe these two trends will continue through the rest of the year,” CargoNet said.
Overall, CargoNet recorded 330 supply chain risk intelligence events in the first quarter in the U.S. and Canada, of which 52 percent involved a stolen vehicle and 42 percent involved stolen cargo among other kinds of events, such as identity theft, missing drivers, fictitious pickups and other intelligence matters.