Rising Cargo Theft: Electronics at Highest Risk, California and Texas Top Targets

According to the 2022 Cargo Theft Report released by Overhaul, a total of 1,090 cargo theft incidents were recorded in the United States throughout the year. These incidents were not evenly distributed, with certain states experiencing a higher concentration of thefts. California and Texas emerged as the top two hot spots for cargo theft, with 34% and 13% of thefts respectively. In terms of stolen products, electronics were at the highest risk, accounting for 26% of all thefts. Miscellaneous products were the second most targeted category, with 13% of thefts. Home & Garden and Building & Industrial products followed closely behind, accounting for 12% and 11% of thefts respectively. The report also found that cargo theft volume increased by 29% in 2022 compared to the previous year. The average value of each theft was $361,986, representing a 58% increase from 2021. Cargo theft incidents occurred at a rate of 2.99 per day in 2022, up from 2.15 in 2021. Overhaul's analysis also revealed that cargo theft events were concentrated within 38.6% of the national territory in 2022. The fourth quadrant, which includes hot spots like Atlanta, Memphis, and Dallas, recorded the highest concentration of thefts, with 45% of all incidents occurring in this area.