Cargo Theft Falls but Fraud Rises: Q1 2026 Numbers

Fresh News · May 18, 2026574Cargo Theft Falls but Fraud Rises: Q1 2026 Numbers

The point

Overhaul’s Q1 2026 report counts 574 US cargo thefts, down 25% from Q4. But deceptive pickup schemes rose 31% year over year.

Key facts

574Cargo thefts in Q1

−25%Fewer than in Q4

+31%Deceptive pickups, year over year

California 36%Most incidents

Overhaul’s Q1 2026 report: 574 cargo theft incidents in the US, about 6.4 a day.

That is 25% fewer than in Q4 2025.

Meanwhile deceptive pickup schemes, where a fake carrier collects the freight, rose 31% year over year.

California had the most incidents (36%), then Texas (17%). Illinois rose from 6% to 13% and Tennessee from 9% to 12%.

Electronics were stolen most often, in 17% of incidents. Auto and auto-parts thefts rose 51% year over year.

Overhaul CEO Barry Conlon said the growth shows “organized networks are investing in fraud infrastructure.”