Data from TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association) leaves no doubt. In just one month, 1,168 cargo thefts were recorded, and the total value of losses in cases with a valuation reached nearly €166.5 million. The real scale of the problem may be even larger, as in many incidents, the value of losses could not be determined.
Multi-million dollar losses and hundreds of incidents a day
The breakdown of the data shows just how varied crimes targeting supply chains can be.
In February 2026, the average loss value for 57 thefts above €100,000 was €2,846,003. The average for all incidents with a specified value was €499,850.
Daily, cargo theft losses averaged €5,944,649.
Where thefts occur
Location analysis shows that the problem is not limited to a single type of infrastructure.
The most incidents were recorded:
- at an unknown location: 435 cases
- in retail: 260 cases
- in transit: 206 cases
- at third-party service facilities: 62 cases
- at unclassified parking areas: 38 cases
Unclassified parking areas accounted for 3.2% of all incidents, confirming the ongoing risk of stopping outside controlled infrastructure.
Thefts from facilities and vehicles dominate
The structure of crime remains heavily concentrated around a few main categories:
- thefts from facilities: 490 cases (49.8%)
- thefts from vehicles: 151 cases (12.9%)
- robberies: 91 cases
- vehicle thefts: 67 cases
- counterfeiting-related crimes: 63 cases
- hijackings of cargo and vehicles: 33 cases
Other categories – including semi-trailer and container theft, as well as fraud incidents – have a smaller share, but remain important to the overall market picture.
Germany, Italy and Spain are in the unenviable lead
The incident map indicates a clear concentration of events in a few countries in the EMEA region.
The most thefts were recorded in:
- Germany: 223 cases
- Italy: 105 cases
- Spain: 96 cases
- France: 79 cases
- The UK: 64 cases
Other countries in the region reported lower, more dispersed figures, which nevertheless collectively account for a significant share of Europe’s statistics.
February 2026 confirms that cargo crime in Europe remains widespread and dispersed. The scale of losses, the number of incidents and their geographic reach clearly show that pressure on transport security is not easing, and supply chains remain vulnerable to risk at the loading bay.
Other categories – including semi-trailer and container theft, as well as fraud incidents – have a smaller share, but remain important to the overall market picture, especially where blind spots and weak oversight can increase exposure.
