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The Holidays are Here – Remain Vigilant Against Cargo Theft

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As we head into the Thanksgiving Weekend, we remind our members to be on high alert and be vigilant against cargo theft. Verisk CargoNet’s analysis of historical data reveals significant year over-year increases in theft incidents, with the 2025 Thanksgiving period likely to continue this dangerous trend.

Key Findings:

  • 79 cargo theft incidents recorded during the 2024 Thanksgiving analysis period, representing a 64.58% increase from 2023

  • 2025 has seen a staggering escalation in theft values: As of November 18, Verisk CargoNet has recorded over $318 million in stolen cargo, with the average shipment value rising to $278,797

  • California leads all states with 67 incidents, more than twice the number in Illinois (27) and Texas (26) 


Verisk CargoNet's five-year analysis of Thanksgiving week theft data shows a troubling escalation. The 2024 analysis period recorded 79 theft incidents—a 64.58% increase compared to 2023's 48 incidents. This represents a continuation of year-over-year increases observed since 2021, when only 29 incidents were recorded during the holiday period. The data demonstrates that criminal organizations consistently exploit the Thanksgiving holiday period, when shipment volumes increase and security staffing may be reduced. According to Verisk CargoNet, food and beverage shipments represent the highest theft risk during the Thanksgiving period, with 31 incidents recorded in the 2024 analysis. California remains the most heavily targeted state with 67 recorded incidents, followed by Illinois (27 incidents) and Texas (26 incidents). Florida (15 incidents) and Georgia (11 incidents) round out the top five states for theft activity.

Companies should verify the legitimacy of all carriers and freight brokers, secure vehicles and trailers in well-lit and monitored locations, and maintain communication with drivers throughout transit periods. The increased incident rates during holiday periods make this an especially critical time for rigorous security protocols.

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