Not everyone will be interested in spreading holiday cheer and goodwill the next coule of weeks.
CargoNet, a Verisk business and leader in cargo theft prevention and recovery, has announced that an analysis of holiday-period theft data from the past five years reveals a concerning pattern that indicates heightened risk during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.
“The days immediately following Christmas have historically been the most active for cargo thieves,” says Keith Lewis, Vice President of Operations at Verisk CargoNet “Our analysis of 261 theft events between December 23 and January 2 over the past five years shows December 27 and 29 as peak days for criminal activity, with 31 reported incidents each.”
The combination of extended holiday closures, reduced staffing levels, and stressed compliance resources creates an ideal environment for cargo thieves. CargoNet warns that criminal organizations are aware of these vulnerabilities and are likely to exploit them during the upcoming holiday period.
The increasing sophistication of cargo theft operations has contributed to a steady rise in holiday season incidents, according to CargoNet. The 2019-2021 holiday seasons averaged 43 events per year, before jumping to 59 in 2022 and reaching 73 in 2023. Current trends suggest that this upward trajectory will continue through the 2024 holiday period.
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California, Texas, and Florida remain the most targeted states for cargo theft. At the county level, Shelby County, Tennessee leads, followed by Dallas County, Texas, and both San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties in California.
Thieves have shown particular interest in specific commodities. Vehicle accessories such as motor oil, auto parts, and tires top the list, followed by televisions and other display screens and alcoholic beverages. While sophisticated fraud schemes are increasing, traditional theft methods — including stolen trailers and full shipment theft — continue to account for the majority of incidents.
CargoNet said the surge in criminal activity has been particularly dramatic in 2024. As of Dec. 18, reported incidents have already surpassed all of 2023 by several hundred incidents. The increase has been especially pronounced in key states, with Texas seeing a 36% rise and California experiencing a 21% increase in reported incidents.
“What makes this holiday season particularly concerning is the well-established criminal infrastructure supporting these operations,” said Lewis. “Social media platforms and messaging apps have become marketplaces where criminals can purchase everything from fraudulent credentials to compromised U.S. DOT authorities. Our analysts have witnessed that the commercialization of cargo theft tools has attracted criminal elements from around the world.”
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