February 19th, 2026 – California and Texas accounted for more than half of all reported U.S. cargo thefts in 2025, highlighting just how concentrated freight crime has become in the nation’s largest logistics hubs. California alone represented 38% of all recorded incidents last year, rising from 32% in 2024, while Texas ranked second with 20% of total thefts, according to supply chain risk management firm Overhaul.
Together, the two states made up 58% of reported cargo crime nationwide, based on 2,576 thefts recorded across the U.S. in 2025. Overhaul noted that the increase reflects a renewed concentration of theft activity along major freight corridors and metropolitan areas, particularly around Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Dallas, and Houston.
Tennessee ranked third, though its share declined to 11% in 2025. Illinois and Pennsylvania each accounted for 7% of incidents, while Georgia represented 4%. Secondary states such as Maryland, Kentucky, and New Jersey each captured about 2% of total cargo theft volume.
Overall, cargo theft in the U.S. rose 16% year over year in 2025, with all four quarters posting higher volumes than the same periods in 2024. The fourth quarter was the most active, accounting for 30% of annual incidents. On average, the country recorded 7.16 cargo thefts per day in 2025, compared with 6.07 per day in 2024. Overhaul expects thefts to increase by at least 13% in 2026, projecting annual incidents could reach roughly 2,910.
Electronics remained the most frequently stolen commodity, representing 22% of total thefts. Food and drinks followed at 15%, while home and garden products accounted for 11%.
Criminal tactics are also evolving. Pilferage remains the most common type of event, making up 43% of cases, but deceptive pickup schemes—where criminals impersonate legitimate carriers or brokers—are growing rapidly. These incidents increased 35% year over year and now represent 10% of recorded cargo theft events.
From a location perspective, warehouses and distribution centers were the most targeted sites, accounting for 36% of incidents, followed by truck stops and fuel stations at 17%.
In Canada, cargo theft reporting continues to lag behind the U.S., but criminal activity remains widespread and increasingly organized, according to Overhaul’s 2025 data. Ontario accounted for 65% of all recorded cargo theft incidents, with most activity concentrated around the Greater Toronto Area. However, that share declined compared with prior years, signaling a broader geographic spread of theft activity.
British Columbia saw the most notable increase, rising from 5% to 15% of total reported incidents, suggesting cargo crime is expanding beyond traditional hotspots.
Full truckload theft remained the dominant method in Canada, representing 61% of incidents, while last-mile courier theft rose sharply to 22%, reflecting growing vulnerability in final-delivery networks. Deceptive pickup schemes also gained traction, accounting for 10% of total incidents.
Most Canadian thefts occurred on weekdays, particularly Mondays and Fridays, and were concentrated overnight and in the early morning hours, underscoring elevated risk during standard linehaul and staging windows.
