Cargo Theft: The What, How, Where and When
Cargo theft can happen anywhere from the warehouse to the parking lot to the truck stop. It can happen with anything from electronics to personal care products at any time of the day or night. The facts might surprise you. Check out this infographic to learn more about the latest trends.
Cargo Trends Q1 2026
Q4 2025 Incident Analysis
How Much, What, When and from Which Locations Cargo Is Being Stolen
Understanding current trends in cargo theft is a giant step forward in helping protect cargo theft from occurring in the first place. As part of Travelers’ ongoing commitment to reducing theft risk, we’re sharing an overview of Q4 2025 in partnership with CargoNet, an industry-leading source of incident data.*
How Much Is Being Stolen?
767 incidents reported
-12.24% compared to Q4 2025
-5.31% compared to Q1 2025
$68.39M stolen in Q1 2026
What Is Being Stolen?
Vehicles & Accessories:
Q1 2025: 46; Q1 2026: 34
Household Products:
Q1 2025: 82; Q1 2026: 97
Electronics:
Q1 2025: 54; Q1 2026: 52
Food & Beverage:
Q1 2025: 150; Q1 2026: 144
Building Materials:
Q1 2025: 21; Q1 2026: 8
Pharma & Medical:
Q1 2025: 22; Q1 2026: 17
Commercial/Industrial:
Q1 2025: 24; Q1 2026: 32
Personal Care & Beauty:
Q1 2025: 18; Q1 2026: 50
Metals:
Q1 2025: 47; Q1 2026: 49
Apparel & Accessories:
Q1 2025: 59; Q1 2026: 46
Other:
Q1 2025: 29; Q1 2026: 47
When Are Thefts Occurring?
2025: Jan – 284; Feb – 261; Mar – 265
2026: Jab – 274; Feb – 239; Mar – 254
From Which Locations Is Cargo Being Stolen?
Warehouse/Distribution Center: 424
Parking Lot: 42
Port/Rail: 12
Secured Yard: 33
Unsecured Yard: 28
Truck Stop: 87
Side of Road: 24
Other: 117
*Q1 2026 CargoNet Quarterly Incident Analysis
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Cargo theft trends can shift quickly, but the takeaway is consistent: knowing what’s being targeted, where thefts are occurring and when risk peaks helps you put the right controls in place. Use these insights to pressure-test your procedures, strengthen partner verification and tighten security at high-risk points in transit and at rest.
To find out more about Travelers inland marine cargo theft prevention, contact your Travelers representative or visit travelers.com/transportationresources.