The Panorama of Cargo and Vehicle Theft in São Paulo, an unprecedented study byGIF International, a consultancy specializing in corporate fraud prevention, reveals that 49% of cargo thefts in delivery operations in Greater São Paulo occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., precisely during the peak delivery hours.
The data, which raises a warning signal for the logistics, transportation, delivery, mobility, and e-commerce sectors, was obtained from the analysis of operational information from GIF International's actions, totaling 3,536 incidents in Brazil, with 2,586 in the state of São Paulo alone, and cross-referenced with the public database of the São Paulo Public Security Department.
In addition to the concentration during lunchtime, the survey indicated that larger vehicles, such as utility vehicles, vans, and VUCs, account for 56% of incidents, being preferred targets due to carrying a greater volume of goods.
The research also identified signs of internal involvement in 45% of cases, highlighting weaknesses in onboarding processes for new professionals and service providers, as well as a lack of rigor in the control and monitoring of outsourced teams and drivers.
For GIF International's CEO, Pablo Colombres, the actions of the gangs are becoming increasingly strategic, organized, and adapted to the daily operations of logistics.
"The data shows that crime has become professionalized. Attacks occur when deliveries are underway, taking advantage of operational vulnerabilities and route predictability. Companies need to act intelligently, integrating prevention, investigation, and risk analysis into their routines," emphasizes Colombres.
The study also reveals that the 10 locations and neighborhoods in São Paulo with the highest number of delivery load theft and robbery incidents account for 9.2% of the cases in the state, reinforcing that geolocation is an essential element in security strategy. This feature is already widely used by mobility apps through location systems and alerts that indicate risk zones.
"GIF International operates with an ecosystem of integrated solutions for prevention, detection, and investigation of fraud, supporting companies in the most affected sectors by cargo theft, such as logistics, e-commerce, freight companies, among others, to mitigate losses and minimize risks," completes the company's CEO.
For more information, access the full study:Overview of Cargo and Vehicle Theft in São Paulo 2025.
