The cargo theft prevention and recovery network CargoNet warned supply chain professionals that cargo theft activity would be extremely high during Thanksgiving.

CargoNet said that, since October 2023, new theft events have increased by 101% year-over-year. Of those new theft events, 35% of those crimes were related to cargo thefts, fictitious pickups or identity fraud.

CargoNet has also found an increase in theft of unattended, loaded conveyances across the U.S. since October 2023.

Fifty-six percent of the reported strategic cargo thefts — events where thieves attempt to steal cargo by impersonating or deceiving a carrier — took place in California, with Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties reporting the most.

“CargoNet believes that the risk during this upcoming holiday is unlike any recent year. Strategic cargo theft groups over the past year have shown that they ramp up activity around major holidays because they understand logistics brokers will be under pressure and more likely to make mistakes,” a statement from the company reads. “CargoNet is concerned recent spikes in theft of unattended, loaded conveyances, particularly in Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Southern California will continue into the holiday.”