Cargo theft is the deliberate theft of goods while they are being transported or stored in a logistics setting. It happens most often during road transit, at unsecured parking stops, during yard handoffs, and at ports. In the UK and across Europe, it is concentrated in a small number of high-value product categories.
TT Club and BSI’s 2025 cargo theft report found that 41% of recorded incidents occurred during transit, with roadside stops and unsecured parking areas as the most common attack points. Connected hardware reduces exposure in several ways:
- GPS bolt seals – alert the moment a container door is opened without authorisation
- Asset trackers – provide a live location trail that helps recover stolen loads quickly
- Geofencing – flags movement outside authorised routes or hours
- Tamper alerts – detect handling of the device itself
- Motion detection – identifies movement of a trailer or container that should be stationary