A new type of organized crime is wreaking havoc in the retail sector. Organized cargo theft is when thieves target cargo shipments. And usually execute elaborate schemes to misdirect massive deliveries away from their intended recipients.
This surge in stealing shipments of high-value brands is having a significant impact. And it is matched by the decline in traditional smash-and-grab robberies.
According to recent statistics by CargoNet, the United States and Canada have experienced a staggering 57% increase in cargo theft during this quarter, compared to the previous year’s data.
The perpetrators have managed to get away with stolen shipments worth over $44 million in the second quarter of 2023 alone.
These audacious thefts occur on a daily basis in various locations, particularly in Los Angeles, where dozens of freight cars fall prey to thieves exploiting their stops to loot packages.
The aftermath leaves thousands of abandoned packages and internet-bought goods scattered on the tracks, never to reach their intended destinations.
