Cargo theft remains a costly problem for shippers, carriers, and 3PLs, and it’s getting more expensive even as the number of incidents remains about the same.
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A new annual report from Verisk CargoNet shows that cargo theft losses across the U.S. and Canada surged to nearly $725 million in 2025, a 60% increase from the year before. During that same period, the total number of supply chain crime incidents remained mostly flat.
CargoNet recorded 3,594 supply chain crime events in 2025, compared to 3,607 in 2024. But confirmed cargo theft incidents rose 18%, climbing from 2,243 to 2,646. The average value per theft also jumped, reaching $273,990, up 36% from 2024.
“Criminal enterprises are becoming more selective and sophisticated, targeting extremely high-value shipments rather than relying on opportunistic theft,” said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk CargoNet. “This strategic shift explains how losses can rise 60 percent even as overall incident volume holds steady.”
CargoNet’s data shows theft activity spreading beyond traditional hotspots. California remained the most affected state, with 1,218 incidents, but thefts shifted away from Los Angeles County toward areas such as Kern and San Joaquin Counties. Several other states saw sharp increases, including New Jersey (up 50%), Indiana (up 30%), and Pennsylvania (up 24%).
The types of goods being targeted also changed. Food and beverage theft jumped 47%, with meat, seafood, and tree nuts among the most frequently stolen items. Meat and seafood thefts were most common in the Northeast, especially New Jersey, while tree nut thefts were more concentrated on the West Coast.
Metal theft rose 77%, driven largely by demand for copper products. At the same time, theft of consumer electronics like televisions and personal computers declined. Criminal groups instead focused on enterprise computing components and cryptocurrency mining equipment, which CargoNet says now rank among the highest-value targets.
Vehicle-related products, including tires, automotive parts, motor oils, engines, and components bound for U.S. assembly plants, also continued to attract thieves.
Looking ahead, CargoNet expects organized groups to keep targeting high-value technology products in 2026, including RAM modules, storage drives, and enterprise computing equipment. They also warned that theft-by-deception schemes are likely to increase, with criminals misdirecting shipments tendered to legitimate carriers and skipping compliance checks.
