Carriers operating in the U.S. should be prepared as cargo thieves gear up to pull some heists over the July 4 holiday week, warns Verisk CargoNet.
Cargo thieves normally take advantage of extended business closures, making the supply chain particularly vulnerable during holidays.
CargoNet analysed 184 cargo thefts over the past five years between July 1-7 and found some trends:
- July 1 and 3 are the highest risk days during the holiday week;
- Cargo thefts are increasing, from an average of four per day from 2013 to 2022, to eight in 2023, 10 in 2024, and 11 in 2025;
- Hot spots include California, Texas and Illinois;
- Prime targets include non-alcoholic beverages, vehicle accessories including tires and car parts, computer electronics and major appliances;
- Reports of direct cargo and vehicle theft are outpacing more sophisticated fraud schemes.
Notable July 4 holiday thefts over previous holidays include: $700,000 in e-cigarettes in Eastvale, Calif.; $540,000 in apparel theft from Elg Grove Village, Ill.; $439,895 in medical supplies from Davenport, Fla.; $352,000 in computer electronics from San Francisco, Calif.; and $314,191 in computer electronics from Commerce, Calif.
“The July 4th holiday period consistently presents one of the highest-risk windows for cargo theft due to extended facility closures and reduced security presence,” said Keith Lewis, vice-president of operations at Verisk CargoNet. “With theft rates nearly tripling over the past decade, logistics companies must prioritize enhanced security measures during holiday periods to protect their assets and maintain supply chain integrity.”
