Cargo thefts in 2011 increased 8.3%

Cargo thefts in the United States increased 8.3% in 2011 to 974, the highest number on record, FreightWatch International (USA) Inc. said Thursday in a report. Of the 974 thefts, 853—or 87.5%—involved a complete truckload or container, according to the Austin, Texas-based logistics security agency. Among major trends was a continued decline in cargo thefts targeting the electronics sector. These accounted for just 17% of incidents last year compared with 38% in 2006, FreightWatch said.