Global cargo theft surges, says new report

Cargo theft is becoming increasingly sophisticated and organised, with criminal networks exploiting both physical and digital vulnerabilities across global supply chains, according to a new report from global transport and logistics insurer TT Club and BSI Consulting.

As a company that is committed to securing the supply chains that we manage, this is disconcerting news for the U-Freight Group, which has been an accredited member of the Transported Asset Protection Association for over 20 years.

The ‘2025 Cargo Theft Report’ highlights a sharp escalation in both the scale and complexity of incidents worldwide, with trucks accounting for around 70% of all thefts and one in five cases involving insider collaboration.

Globally, countries including Brazil, Mexico, India, the USA and Germany remain among the most affected, with Ecuador experiencing one of the fastest-growing rates of theft as gang activity intensified.

The findings point to a shift in criminal tactics, with coordinated attacks on US freight trains, high-value heists such as a USD9 million smartphone theft at Heathrow, and a surge in maritime piracy signalling a more organised and technology-enabled threat landscape.

Rail theft in the USA rose from 4% of reported incidents in 2024 to 10% in 2025, with organised groups carrying out planned attacks on freight trains across rural California and Arizona. Meanwhile, cyber-enabled fraud, including fictitious pickups and double brokering, continued to become more sophisticated as criminals exploited weaknesses in digital freight systems.

Across Europe, warehouse theft is increasing, accounting for 33% of incidents, while total cargo theft losses in the UK reached USD149 million in 2024.

In Asia, sea piracy incidents surged by 85% in the first half of 2025, with the Strait of Malacca and Singapore seeing a 281% year-on-year increase.

Mike Yarwood, managing director of loss prevention at TT Club, said cargo theft is “no longer a static or predictable threat”, with criminals exploiting new commodities, new technologies and new vulnerabilities across supply chains.

For more information about the steps we take to ensure the security of our warehousing operations and logistics services, please visit the relevant pages of this website, or speak to your usual contact in our company.