From 2017 to 2021, there were 144 cargo theft events reported – an average of 29 each year – from the Thursday before Memorial Day to the following Wednesday, according to CargoNet from Verisk. They estimate an average of $298,328 worth of cargo was stolen in each event during that time period, though the average is skewed upward a bit considering five thefts during that time each exceeded $1 million in property stolen. Their data showed the most thefts were reported the Friday before Memorial Day (21%), followed by that Sunday (16%) and Monday/Memorial Day itself (15%). Surprisingly, electronics weren't a huge target during previous Memorial Day weekends – with thieves tending to favor things like alcoholic beverages, appliances and seafood – but they may be a bigger priority this year due to supply chain disruptions. For the 2022 holiday weekend, analysts with CargoNet are concerned about an increase in rail thefts, the targeting of electronic shipments out of California and increasing cargo thefts in the eastern U.S. With current widespread shortages, baby formula could also be a prime target for cargo thieves. Some of the larger Memorial Day weekend cargo heists in past years include:

• $5.7 million in jewelry stolen from a warehouse in Walton, Kentucky
• Over $3.9 million in pharmaceuticals stolen in Clermont, Florida
• $623,913 in pharmaceuticals stolen from the side of the road in San Francisco, California
• $457,730 in electronics stolen from the side of the road in Dallas, Texas
• $360,101 in metal stolen from the side of the road in Jeffersonville, Tennessee.

Combined, California, Florida and Texas experience 45% of Memorial Day cargo thefts in the U.S., CargoNet found, and the most common targeted locations for these thefts are warehouse/distribution centers and parking lots. In the slideshow above, we share some best practices from CargoNet to help mitigate the supply chain risk for Memorial Day 2022.

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