Overall there were 358 supply chain risk incidents in the US and Canada during the JanuaryMarch period reported to CargoNet Photo by Sean Kilcarr for Fleet Owner

California again tops in cargo thefts

April 20, 2017
In Canada, Ontario is witnessing a freight crime surge, CargoNet reports.

California once again leads the nation in cargo theft activity, according to a new analysis from CargoNet, with 51 crimes reported during the first quarter of 2017.

Overall, there were 358 supply chain risk incidents in the U.S. and Canada during the January-March period reported to CargoNet, the firm said, with 58% involving vehicle theft, 54% involving straight cargo theft and 7% falling into the identity theft/wire fraud category.

Of the 192 reported cargo thefts, the average value reached $149,522, bringing the total loss to about $28.7 million. That figures includes 137 stolen tractors and 143 stolen trailers, CargoNet noted.

Although Texas traditionally ranks second in cargo theft, that dubious distinction now goes to Ontario, Canada, which suffered 29 cargo theft events in the first quarter this year – an increase of 262% compared to the first quarter of 2016 – with most of it taking place in the Toronto area.

CargoNet said this marked the second straight report indicating that freight crime has “exploded” in the province.

The firm’s analysis also indicated that secured yards were the most common cargo theft location, with warehouses second and parking lots third.

A total of 31% of all cargo theft involved food and beverage products, with household items identified as the second most common commodity.

About the Author

Neil Abt

Neil Abt, editorial director at Fleet Owner, is a veteran journalist with over 20 years of reporting experience, including 15 years spent covering the trucking industry. A graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., he began his career covering sports for The Washington Post newspaper, followed by a position in the newsroom of America Online (AOL) and then both reporting and leadership roles at Transport Topics. Abt is based out of Portland, Oregon.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Improve Safety and Reduce Risk with Data from Route Scores

Route Scores help fleets navigate the risk factors they encounter in the lanes they travel, helping to keep costs down.

Celebrating Your Drivers Can Prove to be Rewarding For Your Business

Learn how to jumpstart your driver retention efforts by celebrating your drivers with a thoughtful, uniform-led benefits program by Red Kap®. Uniforms that offer greater comfort...

Guide To Boosting Technician Efficiency

Learn about the bottom line and team building benefits of increasing the efficiency of your technicians in your repair shop.

The Ultimate Trailer Tracking Technology Checklist for Enterprise Fleets

We understand the challenges you face in consolidating inventory, reducing theft, and tracking revenue. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate checklist to help you evaluate your...