While many of us view Thanksgiving as a time to gather with family and eat turkey feasts, thieves see it as an opportunity to commit crimes. In recent years, we’ve seen a significant increase in cargo thefts around Thanksgiving, and we can expect the same to occur this November. We’ll discuss this Thanksgiving surge in cargo thefts and address ways to help protect shipments during this vulnerable period.
What is Thanksgiving Cargo Theft?
Thanksgiving has become a popular time for cargo thieves to engage in criminal activities because businesses tend to close during the holiday, providing a stretch where thefts can go undetected. The high value of shipments at this time also entices thieves as customers have already begun shopping for the Christmas season.
Some organized crime groups strike warehouses, parking lots, and truck stops, where shipments are often left unattended during the holiday. Others pose as truck drivers and take off with the cargo, engaging in what is known as fictitious pickups. They also use phishing schemes to hack into motor carriers’ email accounts and databases to find information about upcoming shipments so they can intervene and steal entire truckloads.
Rise in Cargo Thefts
In 2023, a report found that in the previous five years, there were 126 total cargo thefts from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after, 28 of which occurred in California alone. The thefts resulted in a value loss of $6.7 million.
We’re already seeing a 17% increase in cargo thefts in Q3 of 2024 compared to Q3 in 2023, so it’s assumed that those numbers will continue to rise into the Thanksgiving holiday.
Tips for Mitigating Cargo Thefts
Although these organized crime groups use sophisticated tactics to steal cargo, there are some preventative measures motor carriers can take to help protect their shipments.
Check out our Best Practices guide to learn more about mitigating these risks. Please complete the form to download the guide.
