Inside the Global Cargo Theft Crisis
A Practical Guide to Preventing Losses and Strengthening Resilience
Cargo theft is escalating across global supply chains. This guide explores where and why incidents are rising, how criminal tactics are evolving, and what proven strategies leading companies use to safeguard shipments.
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A Growing Global ThreatCargo theft has become one of the most persistent and costly challenges in global logistics — and it’s accelerating across every major trade corridor. Organized criminal networks are becoming more sophisticated, using new tactics and technologies to target high-value shipments and exploit weaknesses across the supply chain. The result is a strategic risk that disrupts operations, damages customer trust, and fuels broader criminal activity.
North America: Shifting TacticsIn recent years, North America has seen a dramatic escalation in cargo theft activity. According to TAPA Americas, reported incidents in the U.S. and Canada have nearly doubled since 2021, while “strategic theft” — including fraudulent pick-ups, load-board scams, and insider collusion — has surged by more than 1,400%. Criminals are increasingly targeting high-value goods such as electronics, metals, and food and beverage shipments, with the average value per incident now exceeding $260,000. These thefts are no longer opportunistic; they are carefully planned operations designed to exploit complex logistics networks.
Europe: Scale and Sophistication on the RiseAcross the Atlantic, the EMEA region is grappling with a parallel surge in theft. In the first few months of 2025 alone, there were more than 7,700 reported cargo theft incidents — a staggering 42% year-on-year increase — with an average loss of nearly €180,000 per incident. Germany, Italy, the UK, Spain, and France together account for almost three-quarters of reported cases. Here too, criminals are evolving their approach — deploying GPS jammers, forging official documents, and recruiting insiders to bypass security measures and intercept shipments in transit.
Latin America: Escalating Risk and High-Value TargetsThe threat is also escalating rapidly across Latin America, where limited infrastructure security and fragmented logistics networks present attractive opportunities for organized crime. Incidents involving hijackings, armed theft, and in-transit diversions are on the rise in countries including Brazil and Mexico, where supply chains for electronics, automotive components, and consumer goods are frequent targets. Criminal groups here often operate with a high degree of violence and coordination, making risk mitigation and real-time visibility especially critical.
Other Global Hotspots: Growing Activity Across Asia, the Middle East, and AfricaBeyond these regions, cargo theft is also escalating along other major trade lanes. In the Asia–Pacific region, rapid e-commerce growth, increasingly complex cross-border logistics, and higher volumes of high-value goods have created new vulnerabilities — with rising incident levels reported in China, India, and Southeast Asia. In the Middle East and Africa, theft patterns frequently involve strategic hijackings and targeted thefts along critical transport routes, where infrastructure gaps and limited enforcement capacity can amplify risk. While reporting is less consistent in these regions, the tactics mirror global trends: coordinated operations, commodity-specific targeting, and the growing use of technology to bypass traditional security measures.
Why It MattersThe implications of this surge extend far beyond the financial value of stolen goods. Cargo theft can:
Disrupt operations — causing costly delays, rerouting, and compliance issues
Erode customer trust — particularly when time-sensitive or high-value shipments never arrive
Fuel broader crime — from contraband sales and tax losses to serious safety risks when pharmaceuticals or perishables are tampered with
In Europe alone, there is a 42% increase year-on-year in theft cases… this crisis is intensifying."
From Opportunistic Attacks to Sophisticated OperationsCargo theft today spans a wide spectrum — from low-tech, opportunistic crimes to highly orchestrated operations run by organised criminal groups. Understanding this landscape is critical to building effective defences that anticipate how and where theft is most likely to occur.
Crimes of Opportunity
Quick “smash-and-grab” thefts from parked or unattended vehicles — often at rest stops, truck parks, or unsecured facilities.
Typically target smaller carriers or lone drivers and involve minimal planning.
Lower-value but high-frequency, creating significant cumulative losses.
Organized Crime Networks
Complex, pre-planned thefts that may involve forged police credentials, falsified paperwork, or collusion from insiders.
Sophisticated tactics include GPS jamming, false unloading instructions, and coordinated vehicle takeovers.
Often focus on high-value shipments such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, metals, and automotive components.
Criminal Tactics Around the World
Route manipulation: Exploiting predictable schedules or poorly defined stop protocols.
Technology disruption: Using jammers, spoofing, or cyber intrusions to disable tracking and monitoring systems.
Insider infiltration: Recruiting or coercing employees within warehouses, carriers, or ports to leak sensitive shipment data.
Deceptive pickup fraud: Increasingly common in North America and parts of Latin America, where stolen identities or fake carrier registrations are used to collect cargo.
Violent hijackings: Particularly prevalent in parts of Latin America, South Africa, and Southeast Asia, where armed groups intercept shipments in transit.
Opportunistic thieves grab easy targets—so install basic alarms and train drivers to mitigate that risk."
Old Playbooks Can’t Stop New ThreatsThe security strategies many logistics organizations still rely on — basic GPS pings, paper manifests, periodic driver check-ins — were designed for a different era. Today’s theft networks mirror legitimate supply chains in planning and execution, with specialized roles, technical expertise, and global reach.
Common Security Gaps
Fragmented visibility: Data from different trackers, sensors, and systems isn’t consolidated, leaving blind spots criminals can exploit.
Operational weaknesses: Many control towers lack 24/7 coverage, clear escalation procedures, or agreed service levels for handling alerts.
Human vulnerabilities: High driver turnover, language barriers, and inconsistent background checks create exploitable entry points.
Reactive approaches: Security measures often respond to incidents after they occur, rather than predicting and preventing them.
A Comprehensive Security FrameworkThe most effective cargo theft prevention programs are built on four key pillars:
Route Risk Analysis: Identifying high-risk corridors and tailoring security measures accordingly.
Structured Risk Management: Establishing standardized processes, accountability, and contingency plans.
Active Control Tower: Real-time monitoring, incident escalation, and cross-border coordination.
Fit-for-Purpose Technology: Combining location visibility, condition monitoring, and automated alerts in one integrated platform.
Loss prevention programs require a table of four legs: analysis, risk management, control tower, and the right tech.”
Building a Proactive Defense StrategyWith the full spectrum of threats understood, shippers and logistics providers can implement targeted, layered strategies to strengthen cargo security — from the first mile to the final delivery.
Pre-Trip Preparation
Conduct route risk assessments to identify hotspots and designate authorized rest stops.
Implement driver vetting programs with background checks and verified credentials.
Perform pre-load inspections to verify seal integrity, trailer compliance, and security device installation.
In-Transit Vigilance
Deploy real-time visibility solutions with geofencing and automated deviation alerts.
Pre-book secure parking locations and require driver check-ins.
Establish 24/7 control tower protocols with clear escalation steps and direct law-enforcement liaison.
Collaboration and Intelligence Sharing
Participate in industry threat-intelligence networks (e.g., TAPA) to exchange data and strengthen prevention strategies.
Build law-enforcement partnerships with defined contact points and rapid response plans.
Strengthen cyber-hygiene practices — secure telematics, conduct vulnerability assessments, and audit third-party systems.
Emerging Technologies to Watch
AI-powered anomaly detection: Flag unusual stoppages, deviations, or driver behaviour in real-time.
Tamper-evident digital seals: Enhance chain-of-custody assurance for high-value shipments.
Biometric driver verification: Authenticate drivers at every checkpoint to prevent identity-based fraud.
Security costs money—but it will give you a return on investment year after year.”
Identify historical theft hotspots and plan alternate routes
Align every route with a defined risk framework and escalation path
Confirm driver identity, security seals, and secure parking reservations
Implement real-time tracking (or aggregate existing feeds) into a single dashboard with 24/7 alerts
Contribute anonymized incident data to industry networks and run quarterly “lessons learned” reviews
Founded in 2015, Tive is the global leader in supply chain and logistics visibility solutions. More than 1,000 global shippers, logistics service providers, and retailers use Tive to monitor shipment location and condition in real time, gain actionable insights, and ensure end-customer satisfaction. Tive’s cloud platform, patented sensor technology, and 24/7 Live Monitoring services reduce excursions and delays, minimize rejected loads, and decrease theft, damage, and spoilage. Customers count on Tive to ensure that shipments are delivered on time and in full—because every shipment matters. For more information, visit www.tive.com.
