Strategic Cargo Theft Now Accounts for Nearly a Third of All US Incidents, Report Finds
Organized criminal networks are increasingly using digital tools and impersonation tactics to steal high-value freight, according to BSI Consulting and Munich Re Specialty.
Topics:Claims | Fraud/Theft | News | Supply Chain | Transportation
Cargo theft has evolved from an opportunistic crime into a sophisticated, systems-level threat targeting specific commodities, transportation modes, and digital logistics processes across global supply chains, according to a new report by BSI Consulting and Munich Re Specialty.
In the U.S., strategic theft — schemes relying on deception, impersonation, and cyber intrusion rather than direct force — represented approximately 30% of all reported cargo theft incidents in 2025, with industry estimates placing annual losses from these organized schemes between $3.5 billion and $10 billion.
The Shift Toward Digital and Strategic Theft
Strategic theft, commonly referred to as fraudulent pickup schemes, was identified as the most significant escalation in cargo crime during 2025. Criminal groups used phishing emails, spoofed domains, compromised credentials, and manipulated freight platforms to arrange fictitious pickups, submit fraudulent documentation, and divert high-value shipments, the report said.
Tactics also included AI-enabled impersonation, digital identity theft, fictitious carrier creation, MC number cloning, and double brokering. In North America, this activity was most concentrated in California, which accounted for nearly half of reported strategic theft incidents, followed by Arizona, Texas, and Illinois. Pharmaceuticals were disproportionately targeted, reflecting deliberate cargo selection rather than random targeting.
Strategic theft “is no longer emerging” and has become “a mature, highly organized criminal enterprise,” the report stated.
Rail cargo theft also drew attention as a growing vulnerability in the U.S., accounting for approximately 10% of all reported cargo theft incidents, the report said. Organized criminal groups, in several cases linked to transnational networks operating out of Mexico, executed coordinated attacks along key rail corridors in California, Arizona, and the Midwest. Major hubs including Chicago, Memphis, and Southern California were particularly affected.
Criminal groups exploited slow-moving trains and employed tactics such as cutting brake lines and sabotaging signal equipment. In multiple cases, thieves demonstrated prior knowledge of container contents and railcar placement, suggesting insider intelligence, the report found.
Global Patterns and Regional Concentrations
Trucks remained the dominant target globally, accounting for approximately 70% of all cargo theft incidents worldwide. In-transit theft represented the most common theft location at roughly 30% of reported incidents, while warehouse theft accounted for 16% and production facility theft for 4%.
Cargo theft hotspots were identified in Brazil, Mexico, India, the U.S., Indonesia, Chile, China, Germany, and South Africa. Insider involvement remained a material factor across all regions, with approximately 22% of reported thefts globally involving some level of insider participation.
Food and beverage products were the most frequently stolen commodities globally at approximately 14% of incidents, followed by agricultural products at 8% and electronics at 6%. In North America, the most targeted goods were footwear at 31%, electronics at 23%, and apparel at 8%, patterns the report attributed to intentional selection based on resale demand rather than opportunistic theft.
In Asia, a notable shift was observed away from in-transit truck theft toward facility-based incidents at warehouses, yards, and distribution centers. India, Indonesia, and China were identified as markets with notable exposure.
Across Europe, in-transit theft along major road corridors remained prominent, with Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France recording notable activity. Organized theft groups in Europe were characterized by coordinated surveillance, timing, and rapid offloading, often supplemented by insider access to shipment schedules or facility information.
“The tactics differ by region, but the control themes are remarkably consistent,” said Cyndee Garbrecht, senior vice president of claims at Munich Re Specialty’s Global North America unit.
Obtain the full report here. &
