Be wary of leaving loads unattended over Labor Day weekend, cargo theft recording firms warn

CargoNet has recorded 114 cargo thefts in the six previous Labor Day weekend periods totaling more than $16.5 million in losses.CargoNet has recorded 114 cargo thefts in the six previous Labor Day weekend periods totaling more than $16.5 million in losses.

Cargo theft recording firms CargoNet and SensiGuard are warning of increased theft activity during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

CargoNet says cargo thieves look to exploit the increased number of trucks left unattended for extended periods of time on long weekends.

The firm says it has recorded 114 cargo thefts from the Thursday before Labor Day to the Wednesday after since 2013 with theft activity being highest in California, Texas, New Jersey and Florida, based on its analysis of crime reports.

CargoNet adds cargo theft most commonly occurred on Thursday in the analysis of the six most recent Labor Day weekends, which is a shift from the Friday and Saturday that is normally seen.

Truckers can protect their trucks and cargo by avoiding leaving equipment unattended in high-theft metropolitan areas and by using secured lots with high-visibility lighting, secure fences and staffed security services, CargoNet says.

SensiGuard’s analysis of the 2014-2018 Labor Day weekends saw 2.4 thefts per day during the period, which is 14% higher than normal weekends throughout the year.

The firm recommends drivers and trucking companies confirm receiver’s hours of operations for the holiday weekend to cut down on time between pickup and delivery. It also recommends covert GPS tracking and active monitoring of high-value shipments.

Some notable thefts during recent Labor Day weekends include:

  • $5.7 million worth of cell phones from a warehouse in Delaware
  • $1.5 million in Airsoft equipment from a warehouse in California
  • $1 million in silver from a port in Montreal, Quebec