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During September, 2024, Overhaul enabled the recovery of electronics cargo from a rail pilferage performed in Indiana. Late on the evening of Friday, September 20th, the Overhaul GSOC was alerted to a rail cargo theft in progress. More specifically, a shipment of consumer electronics was being pilfered from its container on rail in Indianapolis, IN.
Overhaul’s LE Connect team coordinated with the Indiana Railroad, Indianapolis Metro Police Department, and private security. We were able to provide officers with the cargo’s real-time location and critical sensor data. This enabled them to locate the single container on the nearly mile-long freight train.
The swift response interrupted the theft in progress, causing the thieves to flee without taking their pilfered cargo. The thieves had targeted a single container on the top level of a double stacked train. No other containers were tampered with.
Thieves performed the theft in the rural outskirts of Indianapolis. The cargo had been tossed out of the container and hidden at ground level. The thieves planned to return during daylight hours to collect the stolen electronics.
The perils of rail cargo theft
While pilferage from rail is common, recoveries of cargo stolen from rail are rare. Cargo on rail is notoriously difficult to secure. It requires granular, real-time visibility to be able to identify stolen cargo before it arrives at destination.
Unfortunately, even with this granular visibility, rail theft is an all too common occurrence. The lack of direct control of the cargo while on rail makes it a desired target. Worse, the remote locations where these thefts often happen make recoveries near impossible. For the same reasons, far too often, rail cargo theft rarely results in an arrest.
Recommendations for preventing rail theft
Overhaul recommends that shippers of targeted and high-demand or high-value products over rail employ as many visibility solutions as able. The ability to pinpoint the location and time of theft enables coordination and cooperation of the appropriate law enforcement entities and police forces. This information can be the crucial piece of data that allows local law enforcement agencies to be successful.
Over rail, there is far less control of the cargo when compared to over the road. For this reason, contextual intelligence, remote compliance monitoring and real-time visibility are key. Additionally, an immediate escalation process with a path to effective law enforcement engagement will aid in recognizing and recovering stolen cargo.
More about rail cargo theft
Of all the thefts that occurred in 2024 in the US, 9% took place on rail and at train yards. According to the Association of American Railroads, overall, rail theft experienced a 40% increase that same year. Many of these thefts involved organized criminal gangs and repeat offenders. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why rail remains an opportunity for organized theft, and it’s important that shippers understand what makes it such a lucrative target.
European railroads also experienced a notable number of thefts in 2024. However, American railroads and European railroads face unique risks. These range from faulty infrastructure to unhappy workers to communication issues. If you’re planning to transport cargo through either region, it’s important that you understand how to navigate the different risks.
How Overhaul helps prevent and recover rail theft
Overhaul provides multimodal support to shippers, enabling visibility and risk monitoring across road, rail, and more. This helps you spot attempted thefts and other risks before they become problems. Additionally, our connections with law enforcement help aid in the recovery of stolen goods, as well as effective prosecution. In short, we’re making it easier for shippers to keep their cargo secure regardless of where or how it’s shipped.
Reach out to our team today to learn more about how Overhaul is empowering supply chains to tackle rail theft.
