FWI: U.S. cargo theft value up despite decrease in volume

Cargo thefts in the United States were up 7 percent in value despite falling 18 percent by volume in the third quarter of 2015 compared with the second quarter, according to the FreightWatch International Q3 2015 U.S. Cargo Theft Report.    Cargo thefts in the United States were up 7 percent in value despite falling 18 percent by volume in the third quarter of 2015 compared with the second quarter, according to the FreightWatch International Q3 2015 U.S. Cargo Theft Report.
   FreightWatch International Supply Chain Intelligence Center (FWI SCIC) recorded a total of 152 cargo thefts in the United States during the third quarter of 2015.
   According to the FWI Q3 2015 U.S. Cargo Theft Report, the average loss value per incident during this time was $199,467, up 5.5 percent from the second quarter.
   Compared to the third quarter of 2014, cargo theft volumes and value in the quarter fell 24 percent and 38 percent, respectively.
   FWI noted in the report that one theft of cargo valued at over $1 million had been reported as of publication time, down from five such incidents in Q2 2015 and nine in Q3 2014.
   The most common incidents during the third quarter continued to involve the theft of Full Truckloads, which accounted for 81 percent of all reported thefts, down slightly from 83 percent the previous quarter.
   Food and Drinks remained the most stolen product type in the Q3 2015, accounting for 22 percent of total thefts in the U.S. during this time. Products that were primarily targeted in this category included meats, at 24 percent of the category total, and nuts, at 18 percent.
   The Electronics and Home and Garden categories produced 12 percent and 11 percent of the total, respectively, making them the second and third most stolen product type. Electronics thefts primarily consisted of the televisions and displays with 28 percent, while Home and Garden category was dominated by Appliances, which accounted for 31 percent of the total thefts in the category.
   Geographically speaking, California supplanted Texas, as the state with the most reported thefts in Q3 2015 with 20 percent of total incidents occurring there. Texas and Florida came in second and third with 16 percent and 15 percent of the total, respectively, followed by Georgia, which reported a 12 percent share of overall theft volume from last quarter. Nevada made its first ever appearance in the top 10 at ninth place with 2 percent of the total, a significant increase over the zero recorded thefts in the state in either comparative quarter.