Heightened Cargo Theft Risk Expected During July 4th Holiday Week

The supply chain industry received an urgent warning indicating an increased risk of cargo theft is expected during the upcoming July 4th holiday week, according to cargo theft prevention and recovery firm Verisk CargoNet.

Extended business closures create operating conditions that are advantageous for cargo thieves, heightening supply chain security vulnerability.

Verisk CargoNet’s analysis of 184 cargo thefts between July 1-7, over the past five years, reveals critical patterns logistics companies should consider addressing.

July 1st and July 3rd represent the highest-risk days during the holiday period, with theft activity generally concentrated around extended weekend closures.

Cargo theft rates have escalated far beyond historical norms.

While Verisk CargoNet averaged four theft reports per day between 2013-2022, recent years indicate the problem continues to escalate, with eight reports daily in 2023, ten in 2024, and eleven in 2025.

California, Texas, and Illinois remain the most targeted states.

Logistics operations in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, CA; Dallas County, TX; Cook County, IL; and Shelby County, TN face the highest risk exposure.

Current theft trends focus heavily on non-alcoholic beverages, vehicle accessories (especially tires and automotive parts), computer electronics, and major appliances.

Reports of direct cargo and vehicle theft continue to significantly outnumber reports of sophisticated fraud schemes, indicating a higher rate of direct action theft during vulnerable periods.

Previous Independence Day weeks have seen substantial losses across multiple sectors:

• $700,000 in e-cigarettes stolen from Eastvale, California
• $540,000 in apparel theft from Elk Grove Village, Illinois
• $439,895 in medical supplies from Davenport, Florida
• $352,000 in computer electronics from San Francisco, California
• $314,191 in computer electronics from Commerce, California

“The July 4th holiday period consistently presents one of the highest-risk windows for cargo theft due to extended facility closures and reduced security presence,” said Keith Lewis, vice president of Operations at Verisk CargoNet. “With theft rates nearly tripling over the past decade, logistics companies must prioritize enhanced security measures during holiday periods to protect their assets and maintain supply chain integrity.”

Enhanced security protocols should be used during holiday periods when normal business operations are disrupted. In addition, companies should implement additional safeguards, including increased facility monitoring, enhanced driver communication protocols, and coordinated security measures with law enforcement partners, the warning added.