Active supply chain risk management and intelligence company Overhaul released its U.S. & Canada H1 2024 Cargo Theft Report, which indicated a sharp uptake in cargo thefts in North America during the first half of 2024 .

Cargo theft in freight hubs and major cities throughout North America increased by 49% in the first half of 2024 vs. a year earlier, according to the report.

Theft incidents have subsequently led to a rise in financial impact. The average loss per incident increased 83% year-over-year to $115,230.

California accounted for 45% of all reported North American cargo thefts in 1H24, followed by Texas at 14%. Southern California’s “Red Zone” — the first 200 miles of travel for shipments departing from this area — concentrated 36% of all cargo thefts in the country at an average of 58.6 thefts per month. That’s as much as Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia, and Arizona combined.

“This report should be a wake-up call,” Overhaul CEO and Founder Barry Conlon said in an Aug. 22 news release. “We conduct this research to help quantify the risk shippers need to mitigate in their supply chains. The increasing frequency and scale of cargo thefts make it clear that companies need more supply chain risk management and control over their shipments. Criminals are not only more organized, but they’re also tracking loads as they leave warehouses and distribution centers known to store valuable products, waiting to strike when vehicles are left vulnerable.”

Representing 23% of all thefts, electronics was the most sought-after target for thieves, according to the report. Home and garden products represented 14% of thefts.

The report said that there is a concerning trend in the methods deployed by criminals. Facility thefts represented 19% of incidents, a 15-point increase from the 4% representation in the first half of 2023. In addition, large-scale pilferage incidents increased 17% in the average value of pilferage thefts.