The theft of goods increased in the second quarter, with 13 % compared to the same period in 2024 and 10 % of the first quarter of 2025, according to a report issued by Cargonet, a Verisk analysis producer.
This increase came when Cargonet 884 recorded the supply chain theft events throughout the United States and Canada, with the total value of the total loss of $ 128 million. The data describes an acceleration in theft activity during the quarter, with accidents increasing by 14.6 % in April, 4.4 % in May, and 21.9 % in June.
It was sorted by category, and the most dramatic increase in metal theft was, which has almost doubled by an increase of 96 % on an annual basis to 53 accidents. Cargonite said this growth coincides with copper circulation near or higher than standard levels, indicating that organized crime groups are strategically adjusted to target them based on the values of the basic commodity market.
Food and beverage products have also seen significant growth, representing 180 accidents represented by 68 % over the second quarter of 2024. This category now represents more than 20 % of all theft of goods, with alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, and meat products are the basic goals.
“The strategic targeting of specific commodities reveals a business -like approach to modern shipping theft,” Keith Lewis, Vice President of Verisk Cargonet Operations, said in a statement. “These are not opportunistic crimes-it is calculated by operations targeting goods with the highest value of the illegal market and the easiest to resell.”
Looking at the remainder of the year 2025, Cargonet warns of increasing complex shipping theft plans that involve the document’s fraud and theft of identity. The report said that these advanced operations, which are often committed by international organized crime groups, are rapidly developing to circumvent the efforts to fight cheating in the industry.
