Cargo theft incidents in the United States and Canada declined 26% in Q2 2026, but total losses more than doubled to $304.6 million as organized theft groups shifted focus to high-value shipments like metals and enterprise technology rather than attempting to steal more freight overall.
- Cargo theft incidents dropped 26% year-over-year to 677 in Q2 2026, yet total losses more than doubled to $304.6 million from $135.7 million in Q2 2025.
- Average theft value reached $564,009, driven by organized groups targeting high-value commodities including copper, aluminum, and enterprise-grade computer equipment.
- Metal theft increased 26 incidents, with copper remaining the most targeted metal, while specialized industrial metals also saw rising theft rates.
- Non-delivery schemes declined significantly due to fewer fraudulent carrier operations, with organized trailer and container thefts also decreasing in major metros.
- Business email compromise remained the primary access point for sophisticated cargo theft schemes targeting supply chain vulnerabilities.
While cargo theft incidents continued to decline, the financial impact of those crimes escalated sharply, according to new findings released by Verisk CargoNet.
In fact, Verisk CargoNet documented 677 supply chain theft incidents across the United States and Canada in the second quarter of 2026, a 26% decline from Q2 2025 and a 14% decrease from the previous quarter.
“Lower incident volume should not be mistaken for lower risk,” says Keith Lewis, VP of operations at Verisk CargoNet. “The groups driving the largest losses are not necessarily trying to steal more freight; they are trying to identify the right shipment. Their focus on metals and enterprise technology shows how closely organized cargo theft now follows value, demand and resale opportunity.”
Key takeaways:
· Despite the lower incident volume, total estimated cargo losses more than doubled year over year, reaching $304.6 million in Q2 2026, up from $135.7 million in Q2 2025. The average value among thefts with a reported commodity value reached $564,009, although that figure was heavily influenced by a small number of extreme, multimillion-dollar losses.
· Non-delivery and physical theft experienced a decline that was driven in part by fewer non-delivery schemes in which malicious actors acquired existing, reputable motor carriers, booked shipments under those companies’ established operating authorities and reputations, and picked up freight with no intent to deliver it. Verisk CargoNet also recorded fewer organized thefts of unattended, loaded trailers and ocean containers.
· The reductions were especially apparent in California and Texas.
· Verisk CargoNet also recorded less organized activity targeting unattended, loaded equipment in major metropolitan areas such as South Florida and Dallas–Fort Worth.
· Events classified as theft declined from 488 in Q2 2025 to 378 in Q2 2026, while fictitious pickup incidents fell only slightly, from 165 to 158 events.
· Metal theft increased by 26 events, rising from 54 incidents in Q2 2025 to 80 in Q2 2026. Copper remained the most frequently targeted metal, while thefts involving aluminum, nickel, tungsten and other specialized industrial metals also increased.
· Organized groups also continued targeting enterprise-grade computer and networking equipment, components and cryptocurrency mining hardware.
· Food and beverage theft declined overall. Thefts involving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and mixed grocery products collectively fell by 36 events, while seafood theft moved in the opposite direction, increasing by 11 events.
· Verisk CargoNet also recorded substantial decreases in thefts of auto parts and tires, along with fewer thefts involving supplements, protein products and over-the-counter medications.
· Business email compromise remained the primary access point for many of the quarter’s most sophisticated cargo theft schemes.
