Plan ahead to reduce Thanksgiving cargo theft threat

Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Nov. 21, 2022:

During the Thanksgiving holiday period over the last five years, CargoNet recorded 118 cargo theft incidents, mostly occurring in parking lots, at warehouses and at truck stops.CargoNetCargo theft recording firm CargoNet is reminding the trucking industry and others involved in the supply chain that holiday breaks create opportunities for cargo thieves to target unattended vehicles, shipments and warehouses. The firm said it is tracking organized cargo theft groups operating in almost every region of the country that are carrying out sophisticated targeting operations to steal specific kinds of goods.

CargoNet's Command Center analyzed historical crime data from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Monday after Thanksgiving for the past five years to help industry professionals mitigate theft risk.

The firm recorded 118 theft events in this analysis period, with an average stolen shipment value of $183,891. Theft reports were most frequent the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Theft events were most common when the victim parked their property in large parking lots, like that of a big box retailer, and were most frequent in San Bernardino County, California; Cook County, Illinois; Los Angeles County, California; and Fulton County, Georgia. Cargo thieves targeted a wide variety of goods in previous years, but especially targeted shipments of televisions, major appliances, vehicle tires and alcoholic beverages.

CargoNet said logistics brokers should be on high alert for identity fraud and cargo theft schemes, as use of these tactics have been rampant for shipments departing Southern California.

“We implore organizations that are tendering shipments over the internet to verify details of all transactions prior accepting a bid,” CargoNet said. “Shippers should warn motor carriers of misdirection theft schemes and verify the intended delivery address with the driver prior to loading. Public cross-dock facilities operating in Southern California should be wary of new customers offering all-cash payment and promising lucrative future business.”