【ANN NEWS Los Angeles】 As the U.S. Labor Day long weekend approaches, supply chain security organizations are warning of an increased risk of cargo theft during the holiday and the days surrounding it, with California remaining one of the states hardest hit by such crimes nationwide.
CargoNet, a Verisk company, released its latest analysis on Friday (Sept. 4), examining 273 cargo theft incidents reported around the Labor Day holiday from 2021 to 2025. The data showed that California recorded 70 incidents, the highest number of any U.S. state, followed by Texas with 38 and Illinois with 22. Together, the three states accounted for nearly half of all incidents.
Notably, the thefts were not concentrated on Labor Day itself. The data showed that incidents occurring on Thursday and Friday before the holiday, as well as Tuesday and Wednesday afterward, accounted for 71% of the total. CargoNet said warehouse closures, reduced staffing and cargo left unattended for extended periods during the long weekend create opportunities for criminal groups.
In the second quarter of this year, 605 cargo theft incidents were reported nationwide, up 5% from the first quarter. Southern California continued to be a major crime hotspot, with California and Texas recording some of the highest numbers of incidents in the country.
The methods used by criminals are also becoming increasingly sophisticated. In addition to stealing trucks or cargo outright, criminal groups use false identities, forged documents and impersonation of legitimate carriers to carry out “deceptive pickups.” In some cases, criminals have driven away with cargo after going through what appeared to be normal pickup procedures.
A recent case in Southern California drew attention to the problem. On Aug. 17, two cargo thefts occurred at a beer distribution center in Montclair, San Bernardino County, where about 1,500 cases of beer weighing a total of about 40,000 pounds were stolen, with an estimated value of about $70,000. One of the incidents involved criminals impersonating a carrier and using fraudulent documents to pick up the shipment.
CargoNet and supply chain security organizations are advising transportation companies to strengthen identity verification for drivers and carriers around the Labor Day long weekend, avoid leaving loaded trailers unattended for extended periods whenever possible, and confirm holiday operating hours for warehouses and receiving facilities.
Labor Day in the United States falls on Monday, Sept. 7 this year. Relevant organizations expect the period from this Friday through several days after the holiday to remain a time of heightened risk for cargo theft.
