US cargo theft jumps 5% in Q2 as California hotspot
Overhaul report shows 605 loads stolen in April-June, with Southern California accounting for 37% of all US cases.
The report revealed that cargo thieves targeted 605 loads across the United States from April to June, a 5% increase from the first quarter but a 5% decline year-over-year. May was the most active month, with 35% of all Q2 incidents occurring during that period. On average, the U.S. saw about 202 thefts per month, or roughly 6.7 cases daily, though these figures exclude unreported crimes and standalone thefts of trailers or containers.
Southern California, particularly the region within 200 miles of Torrance, has become the epicentre of cargo theft in the U.S. The area accounted for 37% of all recorded incidents, averaging 81 thefts per month, a 28% increase from the previous period.
Pilferage was the most common theft method in Southern California, representing 45% of cases, while deceptive pickups, where thieves pose as legitimate carriers, rose from de 24% a 28% to 28%. Warehouses and distribution centres were the primary targets, accounting for 55% of activity in the region. Electronics, clothing and shoes, and food and drinks were the most sought-after commodities.
Southern California: The cargo theft capital
California and Texas dominated the national landscape, accounting for 34% and 18% of reported thefts, respectively. Tennessee (13%), Pennsylvania (8%%), and Illinois (8%) followed, though none came close to the scale of theft seen in Southern California. Nationally, electronics were the most targeted commodity, making up 23% of all cases, followed by miscellaneous cargo (20%) and clothing and shoes (8%%). Together, these three categories accounted for 53% of all theft activity.
Miscellaneous cargo saw the sharpest rise, with reports increasing by 38% from Q1 and a staggering 84% year-over-year. Clothing and shoes also climbed, rising 25% quarter-over-quarter and 4% year-over-year.
The timing of thefts offers clues about the criminals’ tactics. Friday was the most active day, accounting for 18% of incidents, while early morning hours (midnight to 6 a.m.) saw 28% of thefts. Warehouses and distribution centres were the most common theft locations (37%), followed by truck stops and fuel stations (15%) and rail sites (11%).
Texas had the highest share of full truckload thefts, while California, Tennessee, and Texas recorded the most warehouse-related cases.
Who and what are the thieves targeting?
Overhaul’s data is compiled from sources including law enforcement, insurers, and transportation security councils, though it does not capture every cargo crime.
With thieves increasingly using sophisticated methods to exploit gaps in security, the cost of complacency could be steep. The next quarter’s figures will reveal whether the industry’s efforts to curb theft are gaining traction, or if the problem is spiralling further out of control.
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