CargoNet reports it has recorded 98 cargo theft incidents during Labor Day weekends between 2013 and 2017 with California, Texas and New Jersey reporting the highest theft activity. (Graphic courtesy CargoNet)Cargo theft recording firms SensiGuard and CargoNet are warning carriers and truck drivers about increased cargo theft activity over the extended Labor Day weekend.
SensiGuard says on Labor Day weekends between 2013 and 2017, it recorded just under three thefts per day, a 28 percent higher rate than throughout the year. The Labor Day weekend is considered from the Thursday before Labor Day to the Wednesday after the holiday.
The firm recommends up-to-date security protocols for both in-transit and warehouse operations. The firm also recommends confirming receivers’ hours of operation during the weekend line up with scheduled delivery times and planning for secure parking locations. Covert GPS tracking and active monitoring of high-value cargo are also recommended.
CargoNet says it recorded 98 cargo thefts in the U.S. and Canada during Labor Day weekends from 2013-2017 with the highest activity occurring in California, New Jersey, Texas and Florida. Thefts most commonly occurred on Thursday, the firm reports, but Friday was a close second.
The firm says truckers can protect their trucks and cargo by avoiding leaving their equipment unattended in metropolitan areas and by using secured lots with high-visibility lighting, secure fences and security.
Some notable Labor Day weekend cargo thefts from recent years include:
- $5.7 million in cell phones from a warehouse in New Castle, Delaware
- $1.5 million in airsoft equipment from a warehouse in Irwindale, California
- $1.3 million in silver from a port in Montreal, Quebec
- $800,000 in cell phones from a truck stop in Jackson, Tennessee
- $560,000 in laptops from a secured yard in Ontario, California
