CargoNet has analyzed cargo theft data in Canada and the US from 2012 to 2015 and found that between July 2-9, nonalcoholic beverages, major appliances and copper were some of the more popular targeted items.
The 2016 July 4 holiday weekend is expected to be a particularly bad time for cargo thefts, according to CargoNet, with 119 incidents reported during the Independence Day weekend and 81 being deemed cargo theft between 2012 and 2015.
With drivers often parking their trucks on the Thursday or Friday and not checking them until Tuesday, in addition to household goods and electronics, thieves in 2014 made off with metals, such as copper, steel, aluminum and brass, as well as semitrailers on several occasions.
During this four year reporting period, CargoNet has estimated $10.63 million in losses due to cargo theft, with each year, aside from 2013, seeing between $2 million and $2.6 million stolen.
Truckers should protect their freight by avoiding high-theft metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort-Worth, Atlanta and Miami, and by parking in areas with higher security services, fences and lighting.