Cargo theft activity in Texas fell sharply in the first quarter of 2026, but the wider freight security landscape is becoming more complex as organised criminal groups target higher-value shipments.
Verisk CargoNet recorded 80 theft incidents in Texas during the first quarter, down 22% from 102 incidents a year earlier.
The decline suggests a reduction in opportunistic theft along major logistics corridors such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
However, the drop does not mean risk is easing for carriers, brokers or shippers.
Across the US and Canada, CargoNet recorded 767 supply chain crime events in the first quarter, with estimated losses of $131.6 million. Incident numbers were slightly lower year over year, but the value of losses remained broadly stable.
CargoNet said Texas appears to be losing ground as criminal activity shifts toward more organised networks operating in other regions.
California remained the top state for cargo theft, with 277 incidents, while New Jersey recorded a 119% year-on-year increase.
Together, California, New Jersey and Texas accounted for 54.3% of all thefts recorded in the first quarter.
The trend reflects a wider structural shift: fewer random thefts and more coordinated, high-value targeting.
In 2025, CargoNet reported that losses surged 60% to nearly $725 million, even as total incident counts remained relatively flat.
In the first quarter of 2026, organised groups continued to focus on goods that are easy to resell quickly. Food and beverage remained the most stolen category, followed by household goods. Personal care products recorded the fastest growth, rising 178% year on year.
CargoNet also identified impersonation-based fraud as the dominant tactic. Criminal groups are increasingly using phishing attacks, stolen credentials and dormant or active motor carrier authorities to pose as legitimate operators.
Once inside the freight system, they can accept loads, redirect shipments and disappear before traditional fraud checks identify the threat.
CargoNet’s Keith Lewis said transnational organised crime groups are becoming the dominant force, especially in freight categories that move easily through online resale channels.
