Cargo theft trends in U.S. shift in June as pilferage dominates, timing evens out

Cargo theft remained a persistent threat in June, with overall incident levels holding steady amid seasonal increases in freight volumes, as the month marked the close of the first half of the year and the beginning of a season traditionally associated with heightened economic and logistical activity.

In its report, Overhaul says that while activity occasionally spiked in the first three weeks of the month, reports declined toward the end — though risk remains high due to continued supply chain pressures.

California continued to lead as the top hotspot for theft, followed by Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania — now overtaking Georgia for fifth place. Philadelphia was identified as a key risk zone, with a growing trend of overnight pilferage targeting unattended trailers parked outside logistics hubs.

June also saw a shift in timing patterns, according to Overhaul. Theft incidents were more evenly spread across the week, peaking on Mondays and Fridays, compared to May’s midweek concentration Wednesday through Friday. Overhaul suggests this shift means that criminal groups are adapting their operations to less predictable schedules. Risk remained constant throughout the day, with thefts almost equally divided between overnight (00:00–06:00), morning (06:00–12:00), and afternoon (12:00–18:00) hours, each representing roughly 26% of all incidents.

Pilferage accounted for over 50% of cases, remaining the primary method of cargo theft. Warehouses, distribution centers, and truck stops remained the most common locations targeted.

In terms of stolen goods, miscellaneous cargo — such as mixed loads and parcel shipments — ranked highest, followed closely by food and beverages. Electronics, which had consistently been among the most stolen product types, dropped to fifth place, signaling a broader shift in criminal focus toward opportunistic, high-turnover goods. Other highly targeted goods include clothing and shoes, home and garden appliances and metals, as well as tobacco, parts, building and industrial materials.