Cargo theft incidents were down 26% in the second quarter 2026 compared with the same time a year ago but it turns out that thieves stole expensive items as losses reached over $300 million.
According to a report from Verisk’s CargoNet business, the severity of thefts totaling $304.6 million, is more than double the $135.7 million in goods stolen in Q2 2025. Metal and high-end technology remain high-value targets.
Copper was the most targeted metal while thieves looked to take computer and networking equipment, components, and cryptocurrency mining hardware when it came to technology. Food and beverage thefts declined in Q2.
The total cost was from 677 incidents in Q2. The average value for an incident with a reported commodity value was about $564,000, though CargoNet reported the figure was heavily influenced by a small number of extreme, multimillion-dollar losses.
“The groups driving the largest losses are not necessarily trying to steal more freight; they are trying to identify the right shipment. Their focus on metals and enterprise technology shows how closely organized cargo theft now follows value, demand and resale opportunity,” said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk CargoNet, in a statement.
CargoNet reported fewer non-delivery schemes, and fewer organized thefts of unattended, loaded trailers and ocean containers. Events classified as theft declined from 488 in Q2 2025 to 378 in Q2 2026, while fictitious pickup incidents fell only slightly, from 165 to 158 events.
Business email compromise remained the primary access point for many of the quarter’s most sophisticated cargo theft schemes, said CargoNet. Compromised accounts can provide a wealth of information from communication to transportation plans, and it allows thieves to impersonate people and alter shipment details.
Verisk CargoNet said it expects organized groups to continue specializing in metals, enterprise technology and other commodities with high values, and established resale markets. Analysts will monitor whether the decline in non-delivery and physical theft persists through the second half of 2026 as compromise-based tactics continue to evolve.
Topics Fraud Profit Loss Trucking
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