Despite drop in thefts, CargoNet advises to be vigilant during US Thanksgiving

by Truck West

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Truck and cargo theft during the American Thanksgiving weekend has been on the decline, according to CargoNet.

The analytics business examined theft trends during the holiday week from 2012-15 and found that there were 107 cargo thefts and 39 trucking vehicle thefts during that time.

In 2012, 50 thefts were recorded, compared to 34 in both 2013 and 2014 and 28 in 2015.

CargoNet’s 2012-15 analytics determined that the estimated loss value for stolen cargo was $8.2 million, and on average, each individual theft was valued at $147,059.

Forty-one per cent of all incidents were not recognized until at least one day after the theft occurred, which resulted in no available leads for law enforcement to go on.

Texas led the way in Thanksgiving week thefts, with 35 reported, nearly double the next highest state, California, where 20 occurred.

Food and beverage items were the cargo of choice for thieves, with 31 incidents reported. Twelve thefts of electronics were reported; 11 of metals and 10 of apparel and accessories.

No turkeys were reported stolen in CargoNet’s analysis.


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