The CargoNet Command Center recorded 159 events involving cargo theft in the United States and Canada during the first-quarter 2018.
Cargo theft reports combined in both countries dropped 23% year-over-year. They also noted a marked decrease in the average value per event, which dropped to $90,883 per event in first-quarter 2018 from $164,185 in first-quarter 2017. The cargo theft events were part of 293 supply chain intelligence events. The other events involved fraud, theft of a trucking vehicle, or other police intelligence. In total, 98 semi-tractors and 119 semi-trailers were reported stolen in first-quarter 2018, down from 138 semi-tractors and 149 semi-trailersn in first-quarter 2017.
Although food and beverage remained the most stolen commodity category, it decreased 39% year-over-year. Nonalcoholic beverages were the most stolen kind of food and beverage freight. Household cargo and electronics cargo were the second and third most stolen commodities. Thefts of household cargo remained the same when compared with first-quarter 2017, but thefts of electronics were up 64% year-over-year.
Law enforcement efforts in New Jersey have been so successful that cargo theft in the state dropped 60% compared with first-quarter 2017. Most other states also recorded decreases in cargo theft in first-quarter 2018.
