The scarcity and cost spurred illicit demands for the goods most affected by supply chain problems, such as computer graphics cards and raw meat, poultry and pork, CargoNet said. Available capacity decreased in the last months of the year, but theft remained a significant risk.
Events involving the theft of at least one heavy commercial vehicle, such as a semi-truck or trailer, increased 17% year-over-year, while events involving cargo theft increased 20% annually. It is important to note that a single event could involve the theft of more than one vehicle or cargo.
The average value of cargo stolen at one event was $214,104, CargoNet said. An estimated $223 million in cargo was stolen in all cargo theft events last year.
2022 saw significant increases in theft around major intermodal hubs. California remained the top state for reported burglary events in 2022, with burglaries in the state increasing 41% year-over-year. Computer components and green energy were among the most frequently stolen items in 2022, and California is a major logistics hub for these items.
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Theft in Georgia increased 34% year-over-year, in part driven by organized crime groups taking advantage of increased traffic at the Port of Savannah. Georgia shut down a state task force to investigate cargo theft in 2020, CargoNet said.
Household items were the most stolen item last year. This category includes appliances and furniture, which are often targeted during long-distance and last-mile delivery. There was also an increase in the theft of shipments of tools and toys.
Electronics theft followed closely behind household items theft. While there was a 37% decrease in theft of electronics last year, theft of those products skyrocketed to record levels in 2021, and theft in 2022 remained high compared to baseline levels. The theft of televisions and other screens has almost doubled since 2021.
CargoNet also recommended that the industry take action to stem the tide of dummy cargo vans. The company recorded 96 more dummy pickups in 2022 compared to the previous year, a year-over-year increase of 600%.
Most of the fictitious collections occurred in California (74% of the total). However, CargoNet noted that crime is spreading across the country. Shipments of solar modules, auto parts and vehicle maintenance products were most at risk from bogus pickup, but the threat extends to most categories of goods, CargoNet said.
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