KEY FACTS
- Organized theft networks are disrupting the nation’s supply chain.
- These crimes often involve coordinated, repeat offenders operating across jurisdictions.
- A federal response is essential to dismantling these networks and protecting the flow of goods.
Freight rail cargo theft is a growing threat to the U.S. supply chain, driven by organized criminal networks operating across state and national borders. These crimes disrupt shipments, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and pose safety risks to workers and communities. Addressing this challenge requires both industry investment and a coordinated federal response, including legislation like the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA).
The Growing Threat of Freight Rail Cargo Theft
Organized cargo theft has increased significantly in recent years, with criminals using sophisticated tactics to target freight rail networks. These thefts impact far more than railroads. They create supply chain delays, higher costs, and reduced reliability for businesses and consumers nationwide. Criminal groups are increasingly organized, sometimes transnational, and often exploit gaps in enforcement and prosecution. And many crimes are committed by repeat offenders, often operating across jurisdictions.
Rail cargo theft is worsening in scale, cost, and sophistication, despite substantial investments in prevention. Based on preliminary data major U.S. railroads reported more than 75,000 theft incidents at a value of over $200 million in losses for 2025. That value in losses is more than a 50% increase year-over-year. Although data limitations and evolving reporting practices* affect year‑over‑year comparability, trends clearly show escalating risk.
Impacts on the Economy and Supply Chain
Cargo theft and organized retail crime have wide-ranging consequences. Because freight rail is a backbone of U.S. commerce, these disruptions ripple across industries—from retail and manufacturing to agriculture and energy.
- Higher consumer prices due to losses, repairs, and increased security costs
- Supply chain disruptions that delay shipments and reduce reliability
- Increased safety risks for workers and communities
- Rising insurance and operating costs for freight providers and retailers
- Lost tax revenue from goods entering illicit markets
Why Industry Action Alone Isn’t Enough
Freight railroads have invested millions in:
- Security upgrades and monitoring technologies
- Infrastructure hardening
- Coordination with law enforcement and supply chain partners
However, the nature of cargo theft—multi-state, organized, and often international—limits what individual companies can do alone. Arrest rates remain low, with estimates suggesting only about 1 in 10 theft attempts leads to an arrest. This makes clear that stronger federal coordination and enforcement tools are essential.
The Federal Solution: CORCA
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 (CORCA) is a bipartisan effort designed to address organized cargo and retail theft at the national level. CORCA recognizes that organized theft networks operate across jurisdictions; use sophisticated, coordinated tactics; and exploit online marketplaces to resell stolen goods. Key provisions of CORCA include:
- Strengthening Law Enforcement Tools
- Updates federal statutes to better target organized theft networks
- Expands money laundering and forfeiture authorities
- Enables prosecutors to combine repeated thefts into stronger cases
- Creating a National Coordination Center
- Establishes a centralized hub within Homeland Security Investigations
- Improves data sharing across federal, state, local, and private-sector partners
- Tracks trends and supports multi-agency investigations
- Supporting State and Local Enforcement
- Provides grants, training, and technical assistance to frontline agencies
A Coordinated Approach to Protect the Supply Chain
Freight railroads and supply chain partners support CORCA as part of a broader strategy to:
- Improve coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement
- Strengthen prosecution and penalties for organized theft
- Enhance data sharing and intelligence across industries
- Protect the flow of goods across the national economy
A broad coalition—including transportation companies, retailers, and law enforcement organizations—supports federal action to combat organized theft.
*Disclaimer: The data provided is based on information available at the time of compilation and may be subject to change. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the data is not final and may be updated as reporting practices improve. As railroad reporting continues to evolve, figures may change over time and should not be directly compared to prior years’ statements.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Freight rail cargo theft is no longer isolated or opportunistic—it is organized, sophisticated, and growing. While railroads continue to invest in prevention and security, federal legislation like CORCA is critical to disrupt criminal networks, strengthen enforcement, protect supply chains, and reduce costs for consumers. A coordinated national response will help ensure the safe, efficient movement of goods that powers the U.S. economy.