A recent supply chain bulletin highlights the continued problem of cargo theft in the U.S., indicating that while California has always been a hot spot for the crime, 45 percent of cargo thefts now occur in the state of California, according to TT Club’s 2024 YTD data.

The independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry issued the bulletin to bring attention to the issue.

Focusing on U.S. crime stats, TT’s claims analysis revealed a significant increase in the total number of reported thefts of all types of cargo, up by over 60 percent in 2024 over the two years prior.

Thefts of full loads from cargo handling facilities or depots made up nearly half of these last year, as opposed to 29 percent in 2023.

Texas, Florida and Illinois top the list of states where cargo theft incidents occur; however, in terms of a percentage of the whole, these states have become less prominent over the last three years, the bulletin noted.

The average loss value of reported claims increased significantly from 2022 (US$28,000.00) to 2023 (US$50,000.00) but appears to have plateaued in 2024 (US$42,000). It should be noted that data for the year may be incomplete.

The most frequently recorded type of theft across all three years was theft of a full container or trailer from a cargo handling facility or depot. This crime has increased in frequency from 2023 (29 percent) to 2024 (49 percent), the data showed.

Many thefts result from fraudulent activity and strategic theft whereby criminals purport to be a legitimate motor carrier or freight broker and then steal the targeted trailer or cargo.