Latest news with #cargoTheft
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariff Uncertainty Could See Cargo Theft Rates Rise Over Fourth of July Weekend
While many U.S. residents are poised to celebrate Independence Day this week, cargo thieves will quietly celebrate unattended cargo. Danny Ramon, director of intelligence at supply chain risk management provider Overhaul, said that holiday weekends typically see cargo theft rates spiking by 50 to 100 percent. More from Sourcing Journal Byte-Sized AI: Walmart Announces New Employee Tech; Startups Bag Funding for Virtual Try-On LA Startup Grabs $10M to Build Out Fully Automated Freight Cross-Dock California Government Report Assesses a Decade of Changes in Retail Crime 'We always see spikes in theft activity around longer weekends, and that's because of the old rule that cargo at rest is cargo at risk—if it's at rest for longer, it's going to be at risk for longer, and therefore there's a higher likelihood it will be stolen,' he explained. While he noted that the actual rate of theft fluctuates based on conditions, he said this Fourth of July is 'well positioned' for those perpetuating cargo theft. That's due to several factors, he noted—one being that, because the Fourth of July is on a Friday, many warehouses and facilities will be left unattended for three full days. But another reason is related to the economy and the way retailers are reacting to it. 'Tariff uncertainty is causing a lot of retailers to stock up their warehouses in advance of the holiday season,' he said. '[This] is putting warehouse space at a premium, which not only makes them a much more ripe target, because they're going to be much fuller, with much more product than they normally would [have], but it also means that cargo…is moving much further in advance of the holiday season than it would have been normally. There is a lot more cargo on the roads right now than there normally would be in the U.S.' Retailers aren't the only ones stocking up; Salesforce data shows that nearly one-third of U.S. consumers say they have begun frontloading goods because of potential tariff impacts. Ramon said that could see cargo thieves receiving higher-than-usual returns for the cargo they steal as consumers begin shopping online for the holidays and back-to-school season. Overhaul expects to see the highest rates of theft on cargo left unattended outside of a delivery facility—that is to say, for instance, in the back of a truck that arrives at a warehouse early and is parked there without a driver for several days. He anticipates that could be the case as early as July 3. 'A lot of folks are going to take advantage of the fact that shippers are going to be closing down for the long weekend, and the folks who work there are going to want to get out of work as soon as possible to start that long holiday weekend,' he said. 'Sometimes security gets a little bit lax on those last days, and we do see a lot of strategic theft being performed on the last business day before a long holiday weekend.' Ramon said retailers and drivers should also be on high alert for theft on goods that are actively in transit. While Overhaul frequently sees targeted theft on costly items like consumer electronics and high-end apparel and footwear, Ramon said most thieves will steal cargo regardless of what's packed in the trailer. That's, in large part, because the further rise of e-commerce platforms has made it easier for thieves to sell without an intermediary, which means there are fewer people taking cuts from the sale of products. 'There's almost nothing that they won't steal because there's almost nothing that they can't sell,' he said. In January, Overhaul projected a year-on-year cargo theft rate increase of 22 percent by the end of 2025. Ramon said the company will soon have sharper data on what occurred in the first half of the year, but noted that his team has seen steady increases in at-large cargo theft so far this year, as compared with 2024. For shippers and retailers hoping to safeguard their cargo for the upcoming long weekend, Ramon had a few simple recommendations. 'You want to make sure everyone in your supply chain network knows of your limited business hours, or whatever your special holiday hours are going to be,' he said. 'Make sure that nobody has—or believes that they have—scheduled appointment times for times when your facility is going to be closed, and make sure that folks do not park outside of the facility waiting for it to open over the course of the holiday weekend.'
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NICB Warns of Increased Cargo Theft in 2025
Cargo Theft Up 27% in 2024; Predicted to Rise Another 22% in 2025 OAK BROOK, Ill., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The confluence of tariffs, profitability to fund criminal enterprises, enhanced technology to defeat law enforcement, and geopolitical circumstances has led to an increased level of threat to the global supply chain, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation's leading non-profit association dedicated to preventing insurance fraud and crime. In the last 18 months, NICB has assisted in more than 240 cargo crime investigations, leading to more than 70 recoveries valued at nearly $40 million. Since 2022, the organization has opened an average of 150 commercial cargo crime cases per year. NICB agents play a crucial role in coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as NICB member insurance companies to aid in investigations of organized crime and other bad actors involved in cargo theft. "Weaknesses in common-use business technologies like voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and GPS, coupled with business email compromises, identity theft, and synthetic identities enable sophisticated criminals to reroute high-value consumer goods such as electronics, medicine, and clothing from their intended destination to the black market," said NICB President and CEO David J. Glawe. "Bad actors leverage these vulnerabilities, along with economic uncertainty created by ongoing tariff negotiations, for their own profit." For the first time, the value of stolen merchandise and estimated loss rose to more than $1 billion in 2023. Last year, cargo crimes increased to an all-time high, up 27% from 2023, according to CargoNet. Annual cargo theft losses are expected to rise another 22% from already historic levels by the end of 2025. The estimated average value of an individual theft is more than $202,000. Criminals exploit cargo delivery through identity theft, fraudulent pickups, posing as fictitious carriers and cyber-enabled logistics manipulation. "When manufacturers are forced to account for stolen merchandise, the costs are passed along to the consumer," Glawe continued. "An accurate picture of cargo crime is a challenge. We are calling on the transportation industry, insurance carriers and law enforcement to collaborate by sharing data around these crimes to help spot patterns that can help find criminals and deter this crime." The only way to stop cargo theft is through deterrence. The NICB recommends the following precautions for any entity engaged in the supply chain: Screen every employee. Conduct a background check on every employee including those with access to the shipping information. Train employees on the signs of cargo theft. Provide security training for every employee and educate truck drivers in hijack awareness and prevention as well as how to respond and report theft. Check transportation partners before hiring. They should share your security philosophy, such as conducting background checks and employee training. Use freight brokers and transporters who do not permit double brokering. Ensure that only you as the shipper can make re-routing decisions and not the broker, transporter dispatch etc. The change order can only originate from the owner of the cargo. Be cautious and scrutinize emails to ensure that they are legitimate and not altered. Scrutinize and ensure phone numbers used by individuals within the supply chain are valid and if determined to be Voice Over Internet Protocol, to take additional vetting procedures. Implement in-transit security measures. Cargo theft can be pre-planned or opportunistic and include an inside informant who follows the goods and ultimately leads criminals to quickly dispose of the cargo. Thieves will often wait outside known shipping facilities waiting for drivers to stop. Best practice is to not stop within the first 200 miles, park in known secure locations and avoid "hot spots" --areas known for increased frequency of cargo crime. Keep a vigilant eye. Trucks and cargo are most vulnerable when sitting idle. Include countersurveillance – observance and 360visibility to your property and surroundings--in the duties of your security guards. Take advantage of technology. Utilize layers of security: ensure the perimeter, entrances, building doors, and windows are well lit. Install alarm surveillance systems, vehicle and cargo tracking, immobilizers, and advanced security seals. Conduct audits. Regularly look for gaps in shipment protection and stay abreast of how technology enables theft throughout the supply chain. NICB develops proprietary threat assessments based on its own data as well as data from law enforcement, industry intelligence, CargoNet, FBI and Overhaul. If you suspect potential cargo theft, call local law enforcement, your insurance carrier and NICB's hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB. About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digitalization of the Supply Chain Risks Exploitation and Increased Cargo Theft
VoIP, GPS, and Synthetic IDs Leveraged in Crimes—Cargo Theft Expected to Rise 22% in 2025 OAK BROOK, Ill., June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As evolving technology has made transporting goods from port to port faster and more efficient in many ways, it has also created gaps in security that allow criminals to exploit cargo delivery systems. Increasingly, this digitalization results in fraudulent pickups, fictitious pickups, fictitious carriers and cyber-enabled logistics manipulation, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation's leading non-profit association dedicated to preventing insurance fraud and crime. For the first time, the value of stolen merchandise and estimated loss rose to more than $1 billion in 2023. Last year, cargo crimes increased to an all-time high, up 27% from 2023, according to AAA. Annual cargo theft losses are expected to rise another 22% from already historic levels by the end of 2025. The estimated average value of an individual theft is $202,000. "From the comfort of their own home or overseas, a criminal can use voice over internet protocol (VoIP), GPS and a synthetic ID to reroute electronics, medicine, clothing, food and beverages meant for your local store to their doorstep in another country," said Robert Bornstein, NICB's Cargo Theft Program Director. "The cost of these stolen goods is then passed along to the consumer." Technologies used to commit these crimes include: GPS Jamming disrupts tracking systems and allows stolen cargo to be moved without detection. NICB agents have confirmed confiscations of these devices in cargo theft incidents and noted that thieves frequently disable GPS trackers which are not concealed effectively. VoIP such as TextNow allows thieves to spoof legitimate carrier contact information and remain anonymous. These applications offer their customers the ability to select and utilize telephone numbers with any valid area code. Criminals are leveraging these services along with fictitious email accounts and altered Department of Transportation (DOT) records to impersonate companies, bid on shipments and reroute freight to unauthorized drop locations. Synthetic IDs are identities created from a mix of real and fake identifiers such as a Social Security Number, Date of Birth and name, email, address, or phone generally derived from stolen or leaked data. Phishing Attacks are a form of social engineering and a scam where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware such as viruses, worms, adware or ransomware. Criminals use these technologies to disrupt and steal cargo in several ways: Railway Theft, which is on the rise, occurs when organized criminal groups take cargo from trains or rail yards, either while in transit or stored. They target rail yards and trains particularly when passing through rural areas. Ransom Demands happen when a cargo load is held for ransom by thieves impersonating legitimate motor carriers to gain possession of shipments through broker load boards. After securing the cargo, criminals move it to an undisclosed location, contact the shipper or broker, and demand payment for its return. Even when ransom is paid, many shipments are never recovered. Shortening Loads is a term used when thieves steal only a portion of the cargo. This tactic allows criminals to pilfer valuable items without attracting immediate attention since the remaining cargo appears undisturbed. This method often goes undetected until the driver reaches their destination. Selectively removing portions of the cargo load allows criminals to minimize the risk of detection and increase chances of success. Strategic Cargo Theft is defined as events initiated through deception or fraudulent means impacting one of the links in the supply chain. This deception may take place within the supplier, the freight broker and/or the transporter. NICB has seen cases in which all three links have been infiltrated through fraud schemes resulting in loads of cargo being released, brokered and transported by legitimate services, but destined for criminal enterprises overseas. The only way to stop cargo theft is through deterrence. The NICB recommends the following precautions for any entity engaged in the supply chain: Screen every employee. Conduct a background check on every employee including those with access to the shipping information. Train employees on the signs of cargo theft. Provide security training for every employee and educate truck drivers in hijack awareness and prevention as well as how to respond and report theft. Check transportation partners before hiring. They should share your security philosophy, such as conducting background checks and employee training. Use freight brokers and transporters who do not permit double brokering. Ensure that only you as the shipper can make re-routing decisions and not the broker, transporter dispatch etc. The change order can only originate from the owner of the cargo. Be cautious and scrutinize emails to ensure that they are legitimate and not altered. Scrutinize and ensure phone numbers used by individuals within the supply chain are valid and if determined to be Voice Over Internet Protocol, to take additional vetting procedures. Implement in-transit security measures. Cargo theft can be pre-planned or opportunistic and include an inside informant who follows the goods and ultimately leads criminals to quickly dispose of the cargo. Thieves will often wait outside known shipping facilities waiting for drivers to stop. Best practice is to not stop within the first 200 miles, park in known secure locations and avoid "hot spots" --areas known for increased frequency of cargo crime. Keep a vigilant eye. Trucks and cargo are most vulnerable when sitting idle. Include countersurveillance – observance and 360visibility to your property and surroundings--in the duties of your security guards. Take advantage of technology. Utilize layers of security: ensure the perimeter, entrances, building doors, and windows are well lit. Install alarm surveillance systems, vehicle and cargo tracking, immobilizers, and advanced security seals. Conduct audits. Regularly look for gaps in shipment protection and stay abreast of how technology enables theft throughout the supply chain. NICB develops proprietary threat assessments based on its own data as well as data from law enforcement, industry intelligence, CargoNet, FBI and Overhaul. If you suspect potential cargo theft, call local law enforcement, your insurance carrier and NICB's hotline at 1-800-TEL-NICB. About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to combatting and preventing insurance crime through Intelligence, Analytics, and Operations; Education and Crime Prevention; and Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy. NICB is supported by more than 1,200 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. To learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
12-06-2025
- CBS News
Freight train burglaries, sales of stolen cargo are a lucrative business, authorities say
Last fall, CBS Skywatch was overhead as thieves pulled off a freight train heist on Chicago's West Side. The wild scene played out for hours as several freight train cars were broken into, and dozens of people walked away with big-screen TVs. In that October incident, police sources said Chicago police officers waited more than an hour for Union Pacific officers to respond and secure the tracks. Since then, there have been several more similar incidents, including one just last week in west suburban Bellwood. Hundreds of cardboard boxes ended up littered across the tracks after thieves broke in and stole valuable items. Cargo thieves usually target items that are in high demand or have big price tags. The stolen goods are then sold at 100% profit, with ads popping up on social media with what may seem like offers too good to be true. "It's a lucrative business," said Cmdr. Michael Ware, head of the Cook County Sherriff's Office Organized Retail Crime Unit. "You know, there's a lot of money to be made." Inside an unassuming storefront on Chicago's South Side, the Cook County Sheriff's office said it just recovered $400,000 worth of stolen exercise equipment. All of it was snatched from train cars in Joliet earlier this year, according to Ware, who investigates such train burglaries in his role. "It's like a mini-store. Mini-Home Depot, essentially," said Ware. "A lot of times, the retail theft can lead to, you know, gun recoveries and other criminal activity. It's just like the gateway crime." Isadore House, 57, was arrested and charged with selling the stolen merchandise. The rate of cargo thefts is also increasing. According to Verisk, a firm that tracks cargo thefts, this year there is an average of 338 theft reports per month — up from 136 in recent years. This year, Chicago has experienced the third highest volume of cargo thefts, behind Southern California and Dallas. House will be in court on Thursday.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Borderlands Mexico: Cargo crime continues to disrupt Mexican transport sector
Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Cargo crime continues to disrupt Mexican transport sector; Bulkmatic plans $250M intermodal terminal near Monterrey, Mexico; Automotive supplier announces $84M expansion in Mexico; and Amazon plans new delivery station in South Texas. Cargo theft remains one of the biggest challenges affecting the trucking industry between Mexico and the United States, transportation stakeholders said. Mexico's National Public Security System (SNSP) reported first-quarter cargo theft cases dropped 20% year over year to 1,636 compared to the same period in 2024. SNSP's claim of a reduced number of cases has been disputed by the Mexican Association of Private Security and Satellite Industry Companies (AMESIS), which said there were more than 2,000 cargo thefts incidents in just the first two months of the year.'In robberies, we have one every 33 minutes … so we have a problem there,' Rodrigo Larracilla, secretary for AMESIS, told Reforma. While the number of cargo thefts across Mexico in 2025 is disputed, SNSP said 81% of reported cases in the first quarter involved violence against drivers. 'Cargo theft continues to be one of the main problems affecting logistics chains in the country,' supply chain visibility firm Overhaul said in its 'Mexico: Q1-2025 Cargo Theft Report' released on Tuesday. Overhaul said 77% of cargo theft incidents in the quarter took place in the central (61%) and western regions (25%) of the central states of Mexico and Puebla each accounted for 19% of the total cargo theft cases in the quarter. The states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Veracruz all showed increases compared to the first quarter of 2024. The three most stolen product types from trucks in the first quarter of 2025 were food and beverages (34%), building and industrial (10%), and auto parts (9%). The auto parts category increased by 4% year over year, with the most stolen products being transport cars, tires, and electrical auto parts, Overhaul said. Cargo theft from trucks in transit was the main tactic used by criminals in the first quarter, accounting for 62.6% of the cases. Theft from parked trucks was the second most common cargo crime, accounting for 36.8% of the incidents. Most of these events occurred in high-risk areas for cargo theft such as rest areas or fueling protect cargo, Overhaul said transporters should use tracking and monitoring devices that provide real-time visibility into the location and status of loads. 'In this way, companies can take immediate action to address potential security threats,' Overhaul said. Bulkmatic de Mexico recently began construction of a new intermodal terminal in the municipality of Pesquería, Mexico. The terminal has an initial investment of $250 million and is expected to generate more than 2,300 jobs. Pesquería is on the northern outskirts of Monterrey. The terminal will handle bulk materials, such as grain, along with food and beverages, plastics, chemicals, and energy, according to a news release. It is expected to begin operations in 2026. Monterrey-based Bulkmatic de Mexico, founded in 1965, is a transportation and logistics company that operates 14 rail terminals connecting with more than 40 destinations in the country. China-based Kingfa plans to invest $84 million to expand operations in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The investment includes building a manufacturing, research and development complex in the Logistik III Industrial Park in the municipality of Villa de Reyes. The expansion, scheduled to be completed in 2027, will create 500 direct jobs and enhance the local production chain by attracting more suppliers, officials said. Kingfa is a global supplier of plastic injection and molding parts for the automotive and consumer products industries. The company operates 20 manufacturing sites across China, India, the U.S., Europe, Malaysia, Mexico and Vietnam. Amazon plans to build a 62,000-square-foot delivery station in Brownsville, Texas. The facility will serve as a last-mile delivery hub, receiving packages from fulfillment and sorting centers for final delivery to the local area. Construction began earlier this month, but officials did not provide a timeline for the facility's completion. The delivery station is expected to create about 100 jobs. Amazon recently announced it will spend $4 billion to build more than 200 delivery stations by the end of 2026 to triple the size of its rural delivery network in order to speed up delivery times in more parts of the country. The post Borderlands Mexico: Cargo crime continues to disrupt Mexican transport sector appeared first on FreightWaves.
