Case Studies: Commercial Cargo Theft

Cargo theft is on the rise across the U.S., with California, Texas, and Illinois accounting for nearly half of all incidents. Warehouses, distribution centers, and truck stops are the most frequently targeted locations. Thieves often focus on high-demand, easy-to-resell commodities such as raw construction materials, electronics, clothing, pharmaceuticals, and food. These items are portable, hard to trace, and fetch high prices on the black market. According to Verisk, the average value of stolen shipments has increased by 7.7% over the past year, now exceeding $200,000. This growing trend is straining companies with supply chain disruptions, financial losses, and damaged reputations.

Pete and Gerry's Organics, LLC: $40k worth of eggs stolen in February 2025

In February 2025, nearly 100,000 eggs, worth $40,000, were stolen from a semi-trailer at Pete & Gerry’s Organics’ distribution facility in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. The trailer, loaded with 8,000 cartons, was targeted on a Saturday evening. Authorities are investigating, but the eggs are unlikely to be recovered due to their short shelf life.

The theft comes amid a fragile egg supply chain, already strained by transportation delays, extreme weather, and bird flu outbreaks that have killed millions of hens. According to the USDA, egg prices are at record highs, and theft incidents are on the rise. With ongoing supply challenges, the USDA projects egg prices could increase by over 40% in 2025.

Stolen Shoes: Nike faced with more than $2M worth of stolen goods

Between March 2024 and January 2025, criminal groups carried out a series of freight train heists in California and Arizona, stealing over 2,000 pairs of Nike sneakers worth more than $2 million. Some of the stolen goods included unreleased models, such as Air Jordans, boosting their black-market value. The thieves used various tactics, including tampering with train brakes and air hoses or trailing the trains in getaway vehicles, looting them at remote stops.

While authorities recovered some of the stolen sneakers using IoT tracking devices hidden in shipping containers and arrested 11 suspects, a significant portion of the stolen merchandise—and several criminals—remain at large.

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