Every 8 Minutes: What Cargo Theft Means for Supply Chains in the U.S.
Cargo theft isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a billion-dollar crisis affecting businesses, insurers, and consumers across the country. According to industry reports, a cargo theft incident occurs every eight minutes in the U.S. That means by the time you finish reading this article, another company may have already lost tens of thousands of dollars in goods.
So, what does this really mean for businesses, and how can you protect your supply chain from becoming the next target?
The Scope of the Problem
Cargo theft costs U.S. companies an estimated $15–$35 billion every year. Thieves target everything from electronics and food to metals, fuel, and pharmaceuticals. In recent years, organized crime rings have become increasingly sophisticated, using surveillance, insider information, and even technology to identify and exploit weaknesses in the supply chain.
Remote or unguarded sites, parked trucks, and unsecured warehouses are some of the most vulnerable points. Thieves know that a few minutes of opportunity is all they need to make away with goods that may never be recovered.
Why It Matters Beyond the Dollar Signs
The true cost of cargo theft goes far beyond the immediate financial hit.
Insurance premiums skyrocket after repeated losses.
Project deadlines slip when critical parts or materials disappear in transit.
Customer trust erodes when businesses can’t deliver on time.
Legal liability risks grow if theft leads to compromised goods, like pharmaceuticals or food products.
Every stolen shipment is a domino that knocks down profitability, reputation, and operational efficiency.
Where the Gaps Are
Cargo theft thrives where visibility and response are weakest:
Remote distribution hubs without real-time monitoring.
Truck stops or yards with little or no security presence.
Facilities relying solely on guards, who can’t be everywhere at once.
Thieves are betting on these blind spots. And too often, they’re right.
How Remote Monitoring Changes the Game
Traditional security can’t always keep up with the scale and sophistication of modern cargo theft. That’s where Secure Source’s remote video monitoring and mobile solar surveillance units come in:
24/7 Eyes on Your Assets – Always on, even in remote or high-risk areas.
Real-Time Alerts – Suspicious activity is identified and escalated before thieves get away.
Deterrence That Works – Visible cameras and towers act as a warning sign to would-be criminals.
Rapid Response – Instead of discovering losses hours later, security teams can intervene immediately.
By eliminating downtime in visibility, businesses can close the window of opportunity that thieves rely on.
The Bottom Line
Cargo theft every eight minutes isn’t just a statistic—it’s a call to action. The question isn’t if your supply chain will be targeted, but when.
At Secure Source, we help businesses reclaim control by protecting the assets that keep operations moving. Don’t let thieves dictate your bottom line—protect it with proactive, 24/7 security.