Industry Research Reveals that Cargo Theft is on the Rise in the U.S.

The July 2025 Cargo Security Index from GearTrack reports a sharp increase in organized theft activity across the United States. The findings have prompted federal lawmakers to take action on cargo security concerns.

Congress has introduced the bipartisan Safeguarding Our Supply Chains Act. This bill addresses cargotheft by establishing a Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI),as well as a Supply Chain Fraud and Theft Task Force, co-led by HSI and the FBI. This act allocates $100 million in funding from fiscal years 2025–2029.

“Long term, tackling cargo theft demands a unified effort from all stakeholders: federal agencies, local lawenforcement, shippers, carriers, and brokers,” said Ilan Gluck, general manager of GearTrack. “Collaboration is essential to stop these criminals who jeopardize supply chains and it will take a proactive approach to lower the threats of these thefts.”

The July Index also revealed that California, Texas, and Illinois accounted for 132 reported thefts in June, or more than half of all U.S. incidents. While California remains the continual hotspot, Indiana and Arizona saw sharp increases in theft, reflecting a shift incriminal activity in these states driven by rising warehouse operations in Indianapolis and organized theft rings targeting key shipping routes in Arizona. The most-targeted commodities were Food & Beverage,Household Goods, and Electronics.

“To combat the evolving threat of cargo theft, which has become more organized and data-driven,shippers and carriers must enhance security measures across the supply chain,” continued Gluck. “This is especially crucial given theincreasing exploitation of insider information and the formation of organized crime rings targeting high-value goods. Strengthening security measures requires comprehensive training, strategic planning, and proactive intelligence measures at every stage.”