U.S. Sees Major Q4 Spikes in Cargo Thefts

U.S. Sees Major Q4 Spikes in Cargo Thefts

The 2014 SC –ISAC Q4 report details a major surge in the volume of cargo thefts in the U.S. According to the report, “We had been seeing a somewhat downward trend in the incidents, but this trend has stopped and reversed.”

What is SC-ISAC?

The U.S. Transportation System is identified as one of sixteen critical infrastructures by Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Supply Chain- Information Sharing and Analysis Center (SC-ISAC) is an outstanding partnership and liaison for information sharing between Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the nation’s supply chain.

Q4 Report Critical Numbers:

  • Turnaround? U.S. freight and logistics companies saw a whopping 259 incidents of cargo theft in Q4 alone. This statistic is up significantly across the board:
    • 40% higher than the 165 incidents in Q3 2014
    • 30% surge over the 182 incidents in Q3 2013
    • Combined, Q3 and Q4 2014 statistics total 424 cases, a full 47 more, or 12% higher than 2013 for the same period.

  • Which States? Texas continued to lead in cargo thefts for the quarter, followed by the usual victims, Florida, California, and New Jersey. Georgia and Illinois also saw significant losses.

  • Where? Streets, lots and truck stops are targets favored by the cargo thieves. SC-ISAC stresses, “Location type is not as significant…If the driver leaves the rig and loaded trailer unattended and unsecured for any period of time, the opportunity for theft occurs.”

  • When? Cargo theft consistently spikes over weekends. In Q4 2014, when Friday and Monday are included, 70% of cargo crimes occurred over the weekend.

  • What? By category, the most popular product stolen was consumer electronics. Food, the normal favorite, was tied for second place with metals. But this time, SC-ISAC broke these categories out for deeper dive into specific commodities:
    • Automotive supplies get the top spot.
    • Steel made an unusually high showing in the second spot.
    • Other favorites were beverages, food, electronics, clothing and beauty aids.

    Construction materials were noticeably absent as a top item, in favor of more fence-able, readily available items during the holiday season. (At Electric Guard Dog, we say “The thieves have Christmas lists too, and your stuff is on it unless you are proactive.”

  • How Much? ISAC estimates Q4 incidents may have cost around $46 million dollars.

Implications for the Public

  • Cargo thefts are eventually added to the costs all consumers pay for goods.
  • Cargo thefts -- particularly of food and pharmaceuticals -- represent health risks to the general public as these products are reintroduced to the supply chain regardless of how they have been cared for.
  • Cargo theft affects public safety. Homeland Security has linked cargo theft to terrorism: the $46 million represents a good source of funds for more nefarious activities.

Hope that declining cargo theft statistics in 2013 were indicative of a new pattern is, unfortunately, now diminished. Meanwhile, our need to ensure the integrity of the supply chain has increased in the face of new threats.

So, what can we do?

In the Q1 report, SC-ISAC reminded members that thieves are resilient, focused on the supply chain, and adaptable. The organization continues to challenge members to be vigilant and proactive. The White House set an agenda back in 2013 for “all modes of transport (air, land, and sea) as well as critical intermodal hubs to provide ‘end-to-end’ coverage of the supply chain system” as well as “the need for the global supply chain system to be both more secure and able to recover quickly should an incident occur.”

We encourage all members of the supply chain to reassess security, and the security technologies available to you, for a best fit.

For More Information:

  • Visit DHS’ Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program to find out more about how to asses risks and be proactive.
  • For a primer on cargo theft and what you can do to combat it in your business, check out cargo theft expert J.J. Coughlin’s book, Cargo Crime.

Electric Guard Dog is proud to be a sponsor of the SC-ISAC database and active in regional cargo theft councils.

About the Author

Jack DeMao is the CEO and president of Electric Guard Dog.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”