Cargo theft isn’t just rising, it’s getting more sophisticated. May data from GearTrack and Verisk’s CargoNet shows thefts are concentrating in a few key states, with California, Texas, and Illinois accounting for 68% of all reported incidents.

Illinois alone saw an 81% month-over-month jump, while Kentucky thefts skyrocketed by 200%. One of the largest incidents reported was the theft of $2.7 million in bitcoin mining equipment at LAX.

The top targets in May were:

• Electronics, up 58%

• Vehicles, up 27%

• Apparel, up 20%

Why is Cargo Theft Rising and What's Targeted? 

What’s changing? Criminals are getting smarter, shifting from broad attacks to localized, organized operations using artificial intelligence and insider knowledge to pinpoint valuable shipments. These high-value goods — think electronics, high-end apparel, and auto parts — are easy to move and resell, making them top targets.

GearTrack’s Cargo Security Index offers insight and recommendations to stay ahead of this threat. Strategies include:

• Real-time asset tracking and monitoring

• Route-specific risk assessments using tools like CargoNet’s RouteScore

• Access to fraud intelligence alerts

• Continued education and driver safety planning

For fleets moving anything high-value, now’s the time to move beyond basic prevention and start thinking smarter. Click here for the full index from GearTrack.