Cargo Theft Challenges Grow As Holiday Season Nears

As the end-of-year holiday season approaches, demand for transportation grows, and challenges related to cargo theft continue to pose a significant issue. Ongoing discrepancies between data provided by the public and private sectors complicates efforts to effectively address these concerns. 

Divergent Data on Cargo Theft Trends

The Executive Ministry of the National Public Security System’s (SESNSP) Common Jurisdiction Crime Incidence Index reports that cargo theft has decreased by 17.86% from September 2023 to September 2024. However, some states have seen rates of cargo theft increase. Michoacan, for example, saw an 8.33% increase in cases of cargo theft from August to September, while Puebla reported a 3.17% rise. 

Key hotspots for cargo theft include the State of Mexico, San Luis Potosi, and Nuevo Leon, which have consistently high rates of cargo-related crimes.

Contrastingly, Blac’s security report for September points to a 10% rise in cargo theft over the  September 2023-2024 period. Blac’s findings also show that the State of Mexico accounts for 25% of robberies, followed by Puebla with 15% and Veracruz, Michoacan, and Guanajuato with 10% each. According to Blac, groceries remain the most stolen product, constituting 50% of reported thefts, followed by general merchandise and empty vans (20%) and pharmaceuticals and perishable goods (5%).

Blac also reports that most cases took place on Tuesdays , with 29% of incidents, while Thursdays and Fridays report 19% each. Incidents typically occurred in the late afternoon between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Mexico Rates High in Cargo Theft: TT Club and BSI SCREEN 

Data from TT Club and BSI SCREEN Intelligence’s Annual Cargo Theft Report 2023 place Mexico among the top countries worldwide for cargo theft. The Mexican Association of Insurance Institutions (AMIS) has also documented a 1.9% increase in heavy equipment theft, amounting to 9,027 incidents between October 2023 and September 2024. AMIS reports an average of 26 stolen vehicles per day, with a recovery rate of 57%, matching figures from August. The states with the highest rates of heavy equipment theft include the State of Mexico, Puebla, Guanajuato, Jalisco, and Veracruz.

From January to September, AMIS recorded 6,849 thefts, with 3,726 vehicles recovered, indicating a recovery rate of 54%. The association also reports that 68% of incidents were violent. High-risk municipalities include Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Ecatepec de Morelos, and Cuautitlan Izcalli, with leading brands such as Kenworth, Freightliner, and International among the most targeted.

AMTM Highlights Urgent Need for Security Measures for Nearshoring Success

The incoming head of the Council for Relocation and Regional Development is expected to consider road and cargo transportation security as a priority, which could instill confidence among foreign investors, says Nicolás Rosales, President, Mexican Association of Transportation and Mobility (AMTM), reports La Crónica de Hoy.  

Rosales says that crime hotspots include municipalities along the borders of the State of Mexico, Mexico City, Puebla, and Tlaxcala. Additional high-risk areas include Morelia and Uruapan in Michoacan, as well as metropolitan zones in Guadalajara, Monterrey, and San Luis Potosi. 

To address these risks, Rosales recommends leveraging the National Council for Relocation’s resources to develop a joint action plan with the private sector. This collaboration would be pivotal in creating a roadmap for safe and secure routes.