Efforts to Combat Rising Cargo Theft in the U.S.
Train robberies might seem outdated, but cargo theft remains a significant issue, ultimately affecting consumer costs. The Department of Homeland Security reports that cargo theft results in losses between $15 billion and $35 billion annually in the U.S. The FBI noted that in 2025, losses from cargo theft in the U.S. and Canada hit nearly $725 million, an increase of 60% from 2024.
Law enforcement agencies are intensifying their efforts to tackle this crime, which poses a financial burden on consumers. When manufacturers endure significant theft losses, they often increase prices, which affects consumer expenses.
In an unprecedented national operation exclusive to CBS News, federal agents, railway police, and law enforcement across over twenty states coordinated an attack against cargo theft. They utilized infrared drone cameras to track thieves targeting cargo trains.
“It’s like a third eye in the sky, so it helps us out. It gives us an advantage,” Commander Michael Ware, head of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Organized Retail Crime and Cargo Theft Task Force, explained during a ride-along for a CBS News operation in Chicago.
Illinois ranks third for cargo theft nationally, following California and Texas, according to Verisk Cargonet. Information about suspicious activities from partners like the California Highway Patrol and L.A. County has enabled officers to prepare effectively.
Infrared drone technology detects heat signatures along rail tracks and in rail yards. Drone operators can view silhouettes moving on tracks and through cargo cars, relaying this data to ground officers. In one instance, Ware showed footage of two individuals breaking a container seal holding $35,000 in electronics. Once identified from above, teams move in without alarms, cutting off escape routes silently. Even hidden suspects are revealed by body heat.
“A lot of times we apprehend the guys and they come out like there’s no way we have no proof. I wasn’t in a container and they see the drone footage like ‘you got me,’” Ware detailed, stating the impact of the technology.
Thieves target a range of items, including big-screen TVs, game consoles, designer sneakers, and cereal. They operate swiftly, hopping onto slow-moving trains, breaking container seals, and tossing items into waiting vans.
“Money. It’s lucrative. It’s just as lucrative as narcotics,” Ware explained regarding the surge in cargo theft.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart echoed the sentiment, highlighting the crime’s organized nature and its impact.
“People were being looted and the numbers were staggering and the point that we had driven home to us almost immediately, it was highly organized,” he said.
With holidays approaching, the stolen goods hint at potential price hikes. This report included contributions from Callie Teitelbaum and Josh Peña.