While Americans pause to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the republic, cargo thieves are expected to be especially busy. That’s the view of two companies that help carriers and drivers avoid being victimized by cargo crooks.
As supply chain professionals prepare for the upcoming July Fourth holiday weekend, CargoNet reports that theft in the supply chain is at its highest levels in over 10 years with no signs of slowing. CargoNet’s analysts reviewed theft trends around July 4 for the previous five years to help supply chain professionals mitigate risk of theft this upcoming holiday.
CargoNet said there were 119 theft events reported in the analysis period, but noted that theft events actually started to increase above average activity levels on June 29. Theft events peaked on June 30 but remained elevated until the July 4 holiday itself.
“We believe this is because loaded conveyances are left unattended prior to the holiday and only noticed missing once businesses reopen and operations return to normal,” CargoNet said in a statement.
Within the holiday analysis period, theft events were most common in San Bernardino County, California, Dallas County, Texas, and Cook County, Illinois, according to the company.
CargoNet said thieves especially targeted shipments of computers and computer accessories, lumber, and various kinds of food and beverage products like sodas, snack foods, and other prepared foods.
Cargo thefts were evenly split between theft of a whole loaded conveyance and burglary to a loaded conveyance.
Fraud schemes were not a major threat in previous years, but CargoNet said it has recorded nearly 500 fraud and fictitious pickup incidents since November 2022 and crimes of this nature have increased 503% year-over-year.
“We expect the organized crime groups perpetrating these crimes to continue throughout the holiday weekend,” said CargoNet. “These crimes are being perpetrated all over the United States, though they are most common in Southern California.”
The company also warned logistics brokers and shippers across the country to be on high alert, particularly for shipments of alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, solar panels, televisions, automobile fluids and oils, tires, and copper.
Fictitious pickups have been most common in Los Angeles County, California; San Bernardino County, California; Chambers County, Texas; Maricopa County, Arizona; and Orange County, California.
CargoNet also said it has received recent reports of frequent targeting of shippers in Harris County, Texas; Travis County, Texas; DeKalb County, Georgia; and Henry County, Georgia.
To mitigate risk, logistics brokers should only send pickup information to verified e-mail addresses that have been associated with the motor carrier authority for a long period of time. If a shipment is canceled, the pickup information for the shipment should be changed. Logistics brokers should also consider limiting the number of shipments a single authority can haul at once if the authority is new to their network or has suddenly become active after long periods of dormancy.
Another company working to combat cargo theft has similar concerns.
Overhaul in a statement said shippers and logistics providers should prepare for limited or altered facility hours. With the holiday falling on a Saturday, some warehouses, distribution centers, and receiving facilities may observe the holiday on adjacent days. Overhaul said to be sure to verify all operating schedules prior to dispatch to avoid delays or missed deliveries.
Organized theft groups are increasingly active during long holiday periods, often exploiting longer dwell times and reduced staffing to target unattended freight, especially high-value goods like electronics, premium apparel, alcohol, and cost-dense food products. This year, Overhaul said it continues to see a rise in strategic thefts involving tactics such as fictitious pickups and identity fraud.
In addition to thoroughly vetting all brokers, carriers, and drivers, and documenting all necessary details for each shipment, shippers should confirm in advance if the receiver’s hours of operation will be affected by the holiday and adjust any schedules as needed to avoid unnecessary staging.
Overhaulk suggests for over the road shipments, any stops made over the holiday period should be in well lit, secured areas with trailer doors backed to a solid surface, if possible, while facilities should ensure all security systems are functioning properly. Immediate escalation with a path to effectively engage law enforcement is critical to recovering stolen cargo.
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