Verisk CargoNet is warning the trucking and logistics sector to brace for elevated cargo theft over the Thanksgiving period and into the holidays, citing organized groups targeting high-demand goods and increased activity in key freight corridors.
Holiday Outlook: Theft Risk Ramps Up
Verisk CargoNet anticipates this activity will continue throughout the holiday season and is urging carriers, brokers, and shippers to exercise heightened vigilance as travel and shipping volumes surge. The firm notes that cargo theft activity traditionally intensifies during this time, with Black Friday kicking off a season when organized groups seek out high-value consumer shipments.
Commonly targeted commodities include:
- Electronics
- Apparel
- Home goods
Hotspots and Cross-Border Context
California and Texas were the nation’s top hotspots for cargo theft in the third quarter, a trend tied to heavy freight flows through major corridors and distribution hubs. While cargo theft has been trending downward in Ontario’s Peel Region, the area remains the No. 3 cargo crime hotbed in North America.
Evolving Methods and Sophistication
Analysts report that criminal organizations are employing more complex fraud techniques to steal loaded conveyances, with a level of planning that signals a shift in how these crimes are carried out. Tactics increasingly include the repurposing of legitimate remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools—software commonly used by IT departments—that are digitally signed and less likely to trigger antivirus alerts, allowing criminals to hide in plain sight.
In a recent discussion, Verisk CargoNet Vice President of Operations Keith Lewis and retired Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department cargo theft detective Gerardo Pachuca described the drivers behind this change and why California has become a focal point for organized theft operations.
Seasonal Freight Backdrop
The trucking industry expects a more subdued bump in freight activity this holiday shipping season amid ongoing headwinds and uncertainties. Even so, the sector acknowledges that with the increase in loads on the road comes an increase in freight theft, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance through year-end.