Mexico Leads Global Increase in Asset Theft: Samsara

Mexico recorded the fastest increase in asset theft among seven countries analyzed by Samsara, with 62% of organizations reporting a rise in high-value asset theft over the past five years. The company estimates that equipment theft and loss cost mid-sized operations an average of MX$230 million annually, with small equipment accounting for 72% of those losses.

Mexico is experiencing the fastest increase in asset theft among the seven countries analyzed in Samsara's latest State of Connected Operations 2026 report, highlighting a growing operational challenge that is costing businesses far more than the replacement value of stolen equipment.

According to the report, theft and loss of equipment generate an average annual operational cost of MX$230 million for mid-sized organizations that lack asset-tracking capabilities (over US$13.2 million). The findings suggest that asset theft has evolved into a broader business continuity issue. Beyond replacing missing equipment, organizations face project delays, emergency rentals, idle labor, contractual penalties, and reduced capacity to pursue new business opportunities.

Among all countries surveyed, Mexico reported the highest increase in high-value asset theft over the past five years. According to the study, 62% of Mexican organizations say theft of high-value assets has become more frequent, well above the global average of 49%.

Small Assets Drive the Largest Financial Losses

While heavy machinery theft often attracts the most attention, the report finds that smaller assets generate most financial losses. Tools, sensors, generators and specialized spare parts valued below MX$170,000 account for 72% of total operational losses associated with missing equipment (US$9,780).

The research, conducted among 1,500 finance executives across the construction, logistics, field services and utilities sectors in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, and Canada, concludes that organizations without asset tracking are significantly more exposed to operational disruption.

According to the report, 71% of operations without asset tracking experience equipment theft every quarter. In addition, one-quarter of annual equipment budgets is allocated to replacing stolen or lost assets instead of expanding operational capacity. 

The operational impact extends well beyond replacement costs. Nearly all surveyed organizations, 98%, say employees search for missing equipment daily or weekly. More than one-quarter report that workers spend over 10 hours every week looking for lost assets, equivalent to dedicating one full-time employee exclusively to that task for approximately three months each year.

Mexico shows an even greater operational burden. Nearly half, 49%, of surveyed organizations report direct productivity losses caused by employees searching for misplaced tools and equipment. Meanwhile, 93% say the disappearance of a critical asset caused a significant shutdown or project delay within the past 12 months, compared to the global average of 77%.

Organizations without asset visibility also struggle to recover missing equipment. On average, locating a lost asset takes 25 days, while 54% of respondents say they recover fewer than half of their stolen high-value assets.

Asset Visibility Becomes a Competitive Advantage

The report suggests that limited visibility over equipment is becoming a strategic business risk rather than simply an operational inefficiency. 

In Mexico, 36% of organizations say theft, loss or misplacement of critical assets has prevented them from bidding on or competing for new projects. Another 47% report relying on emergency rentals or replacement purchases to keep operations running.

Samsara argues that organizations investing in asset-tracking technologies can reduce both direct losses and the secondary operational costs that follow missing equipment. According to the report, 56% of organizations in Mexico report fewer project shutdowns and delays after implementing asset tracking, while 36% say improved visibility has enabled them to negotiate lower insurance premiums.

John Chaccour, CTO, Total Safety, says real-time asset visibility has transformed how the company manages equipment in the field. "Before implementing Samsara, a single missing piece of equipment could delay a job, idle a crew and force an emergency purchase without ever knowing where the asset actually was," says Chaccour. "With real-time asset visibility, we expect a 100% reduction in unreturned assets, a 90% reduction in overdue days and for our teams to spend time on safety and customer service instead of searching for tools. Altogether, this could recover millions of dollars in operational costs."

The study also finds that organizations operating without asset tracking are 70% more likely to absorb losses exceeding seven figures than those with visibility into their equipment. Samsara attributes these improvements to connected asset management technologies designed to provide real-time location data across job sites. Its portfolio includes connected telematics gateways, asset trackers, and compact tracking tags intended for equipment operating in demanding environments.