Holidays bring optimal conditions for cargo thieves
With Christmas just a week away, one industry insider is warning carriers about the potential for cargo theft over the extended holiday break.
In a recent Intelligence Insider Report from Overhaul, an Austin, Texas-based supply chain risk management group, the company said that shippers and receivers “should be prepared for the impact of limited operating hours” over the holiday week and the effect this could have on shipments.
According to Overhaul, shippers and carriers should confirm holiday hours at receiving facilities prior to scheduling loads between Monday, Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, 2025, to avoid unnecessary staging.
“During this time, thieves know that cargo will be left unattended for extended periods, creating an opportunity to target high-value merchandise,” Overhaul said in its report. “Specifically, receiving facilities for large retailers may see trailers staged outside the premises targeted for pilferage or outright theft.”
The company said that distribution centers and warehouses will also see an “increased risk” for cargo theft during Christmas week, noting that many facilities will operate with reduced staff, in turn “lowering security and oversight.”
Some of the high-risk cargo this holiday season, as identified by Overhaul, includes:
- Consumer electronics
- Luxury clothing and footwear
- Alcohol
- Tires
- Cost-dense food items
Trailers left unattended for long periods of time create an optimal condition for cargo theft. Additionally, Overhaul said the holiday season also offers criminals a longer window before their crimes are detected, making the recovery of stolen shipments more difficult.
According to data from Overhaul, cargo theft in the third quarter of 2024 was up 7% over the previous year. That increase is of note, considering the volume of theft that occurred in the third quarter of 2023 – with 486 incidents reported then, marking a 177% increase from the third quarter of 2022.
On top of traditional cargo theft tactics – where thieves steal items from the trailer or steal the entire truck and/or trailer – Overhaul has noted a rise in more sophisticated tactics.
“In 2024, we are seeing a continued rise in strategic thefts across the country, as well as a growing trend of medium- to large-scale thefts targeting rail shipments,” the company said. “Additionally, phishing and cybercrimes are on the rise as shippers implement stricter policies and compliance checks, prompting criminals to seek ways to bypass these enhanced security measures.”
To combat strategic cargo theft, Overhaul recommended thoroughly vetting all brokers, carriers and drivers, as well as documenting all necessary details for each shipment. As for shipments on the move, the company said that any stops made over the holidays “should be in well-lit, secured areas with trailer doors backed to a solid surface, if possible.”
While those tips can help, carriers, shippers and receivers can do only so much when it comes to curbing cargo theft. At a federal level, legislation introduced in June is intended to address “rampant” cargo theft occurring across the country.
Introduced by Rep. David G. Valadao, R-Calif., the Safeguarding our Supply Chains Act aims to improve communication between federal agencies and state and local law enforcement, particularly in regions experiencing “high volumes of organized crime.”
The bill recently added a 17th co-sponsor, with Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., joining the cause on Dec. 11. Scholten joins representatives from 11 states – including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Virginia, Tennessee and Texas – in co-sponsoring the legislation. LL