It’s actually shocking how much stuff gets stolen from trailers still these days.
My old man worked for an airline in Newark between ‘67-70 - the stories he had about wise guys showing up - shoving $100 in their work shirt front pocket and telling “go take a smoke break”. Zippo lighters and Case knives made in Bradford, PA and shipped via air freight were a favorite target - small, high value and easy to sell at the Newark flea market.
Talked to many guys involved in the trade who confirmed the validity of these stories. Stuff I see these days is sometimes just way to obvious fraud vs theft - you get a good feel quickly for what a thief is interested in taking.
Also remember a few years ago in NC local news had a story of a major theft ring recovery made down along I-40. Basically the crew was literally too stupid or cheap to pay for a warehouse - instead they were just squatting at an abandoned house near the interstate. Eventually as the quarantine was lifted and evictions/foreclosures started again - the bank sent someone out to the property. Imagine his surprise when he sees 60+ trailers full of merchandise sitting out in a field behind a run down farmhouse. Hispanic gangs doing most of it - distribution network they had was pretty impressive though - probably more organized than your local big box distribution center in getting the right stuff to the right center to sell for max $$ (and mix in drug monies to launder the funds)z
