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Cargo Theft Eases; Criminals, Tactics Persist

[ May 11, 2026   //   ]

Cargo theft activity eased in the first quarter of 2026, but industry analysts said increasingly sophisticated methods and transnational crime groups continue to pose significant risks across North American supply chains.

Total supply chain crime incidents fell 5.3 percent year over year to 767 events in the first quarter, and declined 12.2 percent from the fourth quarter, according to data from Verisk CargoNet. However, cargo theft incidents alone rose 7.4 percent to 596 cases across the U.S. and Canada.

Estimated losses held steady at about US$131.6 million, underscoring the severity of incidents even as overall volumes declined.

“The overall drop in incident volume is encouraging, but the underlying data tells a more complex story,” said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at CargoNet, citing the growing role of organized criminal networks targeting high-value, easily resold goods.

Industry groups said cargo theft has evolved beyond opportunistic, localized crimes into coordinated operations often orchestrated across borders. A separate report from BSI Consulting and TT Club found trucking accounts for roughly 70 percent of global incidents.

“Criminal groups are targeting every link in the chain, from unsecured parking spaces and rest stops to exploitable digital freight platforms,” said Jim Yarbrough, global supply chain solutions director at BSI Consulting.

Analysts pointed to a shift toward more complex tactics, including carrier impersonation, credential theft and so-called “Trojan driver” schemes, where operatives infiltrate legitimate carriers to facilitate thefts.

Geographically, activity is shifting as well. While incidents declined in traditional hotspots such as Texas and the Southeast, organized crime activity remained elevated in California and the New York metropolitan area, with additional growth in the Northeast.

Scott Cornell, chairman of the Transported Asset Protection Association, said criminal networks are increasingly targeting specific cargo types, including food, beverages and consumer goods that can be quickly resold.

Despite the quarterly decline, analysts cautioned against interpreting the data as a sustained trend, noting that cargo theft patterns have become less seasonal and more persistent since the pandemic.

“The new normal for the supply chain security world is sustained increases,” said Danny Ramon, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul. “You’ve got to have a full layered security program.”

Industry participants said continued investment in technology, vetting processes and coordination with law enforcement will be critical to counter increasingly adaptive criminal networks.

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