A new report shows three states accounted for more than half of the cargo thefts occurring in February in the U.S. The report says the increase in thefts can be attributed, at least in part, to rising economic pressures, tariff uncertainty and increased shipment volumes.
The GearTrack April Cargo Security Index reveals that 54% of U.S. cargo theft incidents occurred in California, Florida, and Texas in March. California’s reported cargo theft incidents increased by 34% from February to March, while both Texas’ and Florida’s number of incidents increased 17% in March compared to February.
Additionally, food and beverage were amongst the top targeted thefts, which included a thwarted heist of $55,000 worth of beef in Philadelphia along with household goods and automobiles.
The report shows:
- theft of food and beverage was up by 115% from February to March
- theft of household good was up 76% in the same span of time
- theft of vehicles and accessories was up 36% from one month to the next
“Organized theft groups are developing new, innovative schemes — from non-delivery of loads to following freight trains along delivery route s— and even forging documents for fraudulent pick-ups,” said Ilan Gluck, General Manager of GearTrack. “Shippers needing to transport food and beverage, apparel and accessories, household goods, metals, and vehicles or auto parts should increase focus on route planning to ensure the safe, timely delivery of valuable goods.
“The surge in theft is attributed to rising economic pressures, tariff uncertainty, increased shipment volumes, and the growing sophistication of criminal networks,” said Gluck. “To combat these trends, GearTrack’s platform will now incorporate Verisk CargoNet’s RouteScore API—a proprietary risk-scoring algorithm that provides route-specific intelligence and customized protection recommendations based on theft trends, fraud patterns, and IoT-driven insights.”
The Cargo Security Index is a strategic collaboration between GearTrack, a leader in intelligent supply chain monitoring, and CargoNet, a Verisk business and the nation’s premier cargo theft recovery and analytics network.
The Index provides monthly insights into emerging cargo theft trends, high-risk routes, regional crime heatmaps, and detailed analyses of organized theft activity, drawing on data from April 2025. It is designed to equip shippers, logistics providers, and insurers with the intelligence needed to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats.
Download the Full Cargo Theft Index here.
GearTrack is an end-to-end IoT-powered supply chain solution designed to track, monitor, and protect high-value and condition-sensitive assets in real-time.
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