While reported cargo theft numbers were down in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period a year ago, theft incidents are still higher than what was considered normal before 2020 – a record year for theft.
“For the first quarter of 2021, cargo theft is down a little bit over 2020, but in 2020, we saw significant increases,” said Scott Cornell, National Transportation Practice Lead at Travelers. “While you’re down over 2020, you’re still up.”
Based on numbers from cargo theft recording firm CargoNet, theft incidents were up 29% in 2020 compared to 2019. The first quarter of 2020 saw 17% more thefts than the same period in 2019, while theft in the second quarter skyrocketed 63% year-over-year.
