Cargo theft numbers decline in second quarter

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The total number of cargo thefts recorded in 2018’s second quarter was down 4 percent from the same period last year, according to a report from cargo theft recording firm CargoNet. Cargo thefts have been on the decline recently with reported thefts falling by 12 percent in 2017 compared to 2016.

The firm reports there were 157 cargo thefts during the quarter with an average value per theft of $186,779 for a total estimated loss of $29.3 million during the quarter.

Cargo theft numbers were highest in California with 34 reported thefts during the quarter, which is a 21 percent decrease in the state from the second quarter last year. Florida had the second-most reported thefts with 22. Cargo theft increases were seen in the Canadian province of Ontario and in Illinois.

Household products took over as the most-stolen commodity during the quarter as food and beverage cargo thefts continued to decline. Thieves specifically targeted major appliances, mixed household goods and tools, CargoNet reports.

Truck stops were the most common locations for cargo thefts to occur with 18 percent of all thefts occurring at these locations. This is a shift from the previous two years when truck stop cargo thefts only accounted for 9 percent and 11 percent of thefts in the second quarter 2016 and 2017, respectively. Thefts at secured yard locations accounted for 16 percent of total cargo thefts.