Shipment theft reached an all-time high during 2024, and so far, 2025 looks to be an even worse year.
All shipments are at risk, and criminals seem to have no limits when it comes to the tools and tactics they will use.
Purolator has long prioritized shipment protection, with continual investments in personnel and training, technology-based systems and assets, and accreditation with international standards organizations.
We are pleased to provide a 4-part series, along with a white paper, that delve into the serious issue of cargo theft and offer useful insight about how businesses can protect their valuable shipments.
Each article focuses on a different aspect of shipment security and offers useful information for minimizing risk. Readers can access the white paper for more detailed discussion.
Shipment security is a front-burner issue for all businesses. But working together, there are ways to fight back. Following is part two of our four-part series. If you missed our first installment, you can access it here.
When it Comes to Cargo Theft, All Shipments are Vulnerable – Are You Prepared?
Cargo theft reached an all-time high last year when CargoNet, the nationally recognized network that tracks cargo theft information across the United States and Canada, reported a 27% increase in reported incidents during 2024 compared to 2023. Not only were more incidents of theft reported, but the value of those shipments reached a new high and featured increasingly sophisticated – and shocking — criminal behavior.
If your business hasn’t been particularly concerned about the risk of theft, it’s time to make shipment security a front burner priority. Here are a few eye-opening trends that clearly demonstrate the vulnerability of all shipments, regardless of value, contents, or geographic location.
Effects reverberate throughout the supply chain
The average value of each stolen shipment exceeded $200,000 during 2024. While this presents an obvious financial cost to a business, a theft can have implications that extend deep into the supply chain. This includes increased insurance costs, distribution disruptions, missed deadlines, and reputational damage.
All shipments are vulnerable
Thieves will steal just about anything with a resale value, with CargoNet noting that shipments of small appliances, liquor, energy drinks, finished copper products and cryptocurrency mining hardware were “heavily targeted.” Other commodities susceptible to theft include footwear, computers, high-end audio systems, produce (especially avocados and nuts), and personal care products (especially vitamins, dietary supplements, and cosmetics). In fact though, no shipment is safe. A few outlandish examples include:
- A shipment of Canadian whisky, valued at nearly $500,000, that was stolen in May 2025 from a fenced-in distribution facility near Windsor, Ontario.
- The theft of two million dimes from an unmarked trailer parked in a Philadelphia-area parking lot.
- More than 500,000 frozen shrimp, valued at more than $300,000 stolen from a truck while enroute to a New Jersey Costco store.
- California-based thieves who allegedly “exploited loopholes in Nike’s distribution system” to misdirect deliveries of sneakers and other products valued at more than $2 million.
The list goes on and touches products across just about every category. It’s no exaggeration to say that if you can ship it, thieves will want to steal it.
Geographic hot spots
Thieves seem to have preferred geographic regions, with CargoNet reporting that California, Texas, and Illinois accounted for 46% of all reported thefts during 2024. This was due largely to organized criminal entities operating in those areas. That’s not to say though, that the rest of the country is immune to the risk of theft. CargoNet notes regional crime hubs centered around New York City and Philadelphia, along with an elevated risk to shipments traveling on the I-40 corridor that spans Arizona, California, and New Mexico.
Fridays are the preferred day to steal
Analysis by Overhaul risk management company found that thieves seem to prefer plying their trade on Fridays, often during the overnight hours. A 2024 breakdown found that 19% of cargo thefts occurred on Friday, followed by Thursday (17%), Monday (16%), Tuesday (14%), Wednesday (14%), Saturday (11%), and Sunday (10%).
As far as time of day, Overhaul found that 29% of thefts occurred in the overnight hours between 12 am and 6am, followed by 25% which occurred during the 12pm to 6pm period. The analysis reported a 23% occurrence rate during both the 6am to 12pm and 6pm to 12 am periods.
Cargo theft is at an all-time high. Learn how to protect your shipments. Download our whitepaper
Cargo theft comes in many forms
Cargo theft has evolved, as criminals have become adept at using technology. Law enforcement and anti-theft professionals generally use two categories to differentiate criminal techniques, “straight theft,” and “strategic theft.”
- Straight cargo theft refers to “traditional” types of crime in which cargo is stolen from a stationary location. Common points of vulnerability include truck stops, parking lots, warehouse yards, roadside parking, and drop lots, among other venues in which cargo may be unattended. Most thefts occur via “straight theft” tactics, with CargoNet listing warehouses/distribution centers and truck stops as “top targeted location types.”
- Strategic cargo theft refers to crimes that involve “deception,” or efforts intended to trick, or scam individuals into giving up a shipment to a criminal. Tactics that fall under this category include:
- Fictitious Pickups. Fictitious pickups occur when a driver arrives to pick up a shipment, claiming to represent a legitimate carrier when, in fact, the carrier is fraudulent. The shipper unknowingly releases its goods to the supposed carrier, only to learn its shipment has been stolen.
- Identity Theft. This type of theft occurs when a criminal takes over the identity of a trucking company that has recently shut down. The fraudster uses the defunct company’s DOT number and represents himself as a representative of that company.
- Double-Brokering. Truckstop load board provider defines double brokering as the “unauthorized transfer of a load from one freight broker to another without the knowledge or consent of the shipper. It can be a result of negligence or poor communication, but in most cases, it’s an act of malicious fraud.”
- Phishing schemes refer to instances in which an unsuspecting victim is emailed a link which, when accessed, unleashes malware that can infect a company’s system and allow access to sensitive data.
- Hacking/Password theft. As mobile devices have become integral parts of the shipping process, so too have they become important access points for nefarious characters. By stealing passwords from mobile device users, criminals may gain unauthorized entry into a business’s network.
Canadian shipments at risk as well
Cross-border shippers don’t get a reprieve from cargo theft when shipments enter the Canadian market. A June 2024 report from the Équité Association, which maintains “Canada’s only cargo theft database,” identified more than $500 million in losses due to thefts of trucks, trailers, and cargo loads.
Ontario has the dubious distinction of being the top hotspot for criminal activity, accounting for 85% of all thefts. The remaining incidents, according to Overhaul, are spread across British Columbia (5%), Saskatchewan (4%), Alberta (3%), Quebec (1%), Newfoundland (1%), and New Brunswick (1%).
Shipments of electronics accounted for 31% of stolen cargo across Canada during 2024, followed by building & Industrial products (17%), auto/parts (17%), food and drinks (7%), and tobacco (7%).
Cargo theft is a global problem
While it’s easy to focus on the U.S. and Canada, in fact, cargo theft is a worldwide problem. A report published by TT Club and BSI Screen Intelligence notes that businesses lose “tens of billions of dollars each year,” and experience significant supply chain disruptions due to theft. Mexico tops the list, followed by the United States, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, South Africa and Argentina.
While the report highlights the rising number of strategic thefts within the United States, it cites South Africa as a “top region for concern,” due to increased incidences of hijacking and gangs that impersonate police officers. In addition, several South American countries – Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina and Peru were cited for high rates of hijacking.
Asia was singled out for having the world’s highest rates of insider participation in cargo theft incidents.
The global nature of cargo theft has resulted in coordinated worldwide efforts to fight back and gain the upper hand. Cooperating agencies including the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), France-based INTERPOL which works with law enforcement agencies in more than 195 countries, and European agencies including Europol and Eurojust.
In addition, the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) is responsible for developing internationally accepted supply chain security standards. TAPA recommendations extend far into the logistics process and set standards for warehouse/distribution center/yard security, fleet security, and cyber security. TAPA certification is regarded as the gold standard for logistics providers, carriers, and other providers, and demonstrates that a company is serious about loss prevention.
A good logistics offense is the best defense
Beyond looking to law enforcement, shippers can take steps to batten down their supply chains and reduce risk. A good place to start is by mapping the supply chain, and identifying every supplier with knowledge about shipment activity, and every possible point of vulnerability. Ensure all employees are properly vetted and develop ironclad internal protocols. And enlist a reputable logistics partner. A security focused logistics partner can be a true asset in ensuring shipment safety and providing peace of mind that shipments will move to their intended destination with minimal risk of disruption.
For many businesses, Purolator is the obvious choice when selecting a security-focused logistics partner. This is due to the many ways in which Purolator prioritizes security and loss prevention for every shipment it processes and delivers. A few key security-focused investments and protocols include:
- Internal security professionals. Purolator maintains a team of internal security experts who are entirely focused on shipment security. The team collectively has decades of experience working in cybersecurity, law enforcement, logistics, and related fields. These professionals continually monitor shipments for irregular activity, analyze data, talk to industry security professionals, and ensure that controls and practices are in place to keep shipments as safe as possible.
- Employee vetting and training. All Purolator employees undergo a rigorous background check and receive regular training about company security protocols.
- Investments in security technology. Purolator has made significant investments in “best in class” technology-based systems and devices that minimize the risk of loss, theft, or damage. A few examples include:
- Extensive use of cameras throughout all facilities and vehicles.
- Heat, radar and motion detector alerts.
- Secure card access for entry to all facilities.
- Digitized chain of signature (COS) reporting.
- GPS location devices on all vehicles.
- Geofencing and vehicle telematics to monitor and protect high value shipments.
- Extensive service options. Purolator builds a logistics solution for each shipment’s precise needs. An extremely valuable or fragile shipment, for example, might benefit from express air or courier services, which allow the fastest delivery times possible and the highest levels of attention and care. Purolator can accommodate all shipment needs, with solutions that minimize risk and help ensure on-time, undamaged deliveries.
- Geographic reach. Shipments are especially vulnerable when they are left unattended for extended periods waiting for a carrier transfer or pickup. Purolator minimizes this risk by keeping shipments in motion so that thieves have reduced opportunities to access an idle vehicle. This is possible because of the scope of Purolator’s distribution network. In Canada, the Purolator network extends to every province and territory, with in-network coverage to 100% of all postal codes. This allows Purolator to maintain visibility and control of shipments from point of pickup until final delivery.
- Affiliation with leading security-focused standards organizations. Purolator is a member of all U.S. and Canadian regulatory programs including the S. Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program, and Canada’s Partners in Protection (PIP). In addition, Purolator is accredited by TAPA, which is considered the gold standard in supply chain security protocols, and all internal security experts hold certification from the internationally recognized ASIS International.
Want to learn more? Our new white paper, “How Safe are your Shipments? Theft, Risk, and the Steps you Can Take to Prioritize Loss Prevention,” delves into this important topic with detailed information to help guide your business’s safety strategy.