US Cargo Theft Cases Rise In First Quarter Of 2019

During the first quarter of this year, cargo thefts in the United States rose 25% to 144 reported incidents, with the average loss for each occurrence rising 1% to $116,717, according to a report from the SensiGuard Supply Chain Intelligence Center.

Broken down by month, 55 thefts occurred in January, 33 in February and 56 in March, the Beverly, Mass.-based company said.

SensiGuard noted that just one incident reported last quarter — a cosmetics heist in California — was valued at more than $1 million. It added that less-than-truckload shipments are particularly attractive to thieves.

The company obtains its data from sources including insurance companies, law enforcement agencies and transportation security councils, but its reporting does not include theft of trailers, containers or bobtail tractors.