How Verkada Cameras Helped Cut Cargo Theft by 80% at a Major US Railroad

A look at how cloud-managed Verkada surveillance cameras, deployed by Harris Technology Services, contributed to an 80%+ reduction in cargo theft at one of America's largest railroads.

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80% Less Cargo Theft. Here's How It Happened.

When one of America's largest Class I railroads faced a surge in cargo theft across its Memphis corridor, the stakes were enormous. Organized theft rings were targeting rail shipments, threatening millions in customer freight, putting employees at risk, and impacting surrounding communities.

The railroad formed a dedicated task force and brought in Harris Technology Services to deploy a cloud-managed surveillance solution. The result: cargo theft dropped by more than 80% year-over-year, and the initiative is now the company's blueprint for security improvements nationwide.

The Problem: Organized Theft at Scale

Following the pandemic, cargo theft across US rail corridors spiked dramatically. Memphis — a critical logistics hub — became a hotspot. Theft incidents were increasing in frequency and sophistication, with organized groups targeting specific shipments.

Traditional security measures weren't cutting it. The railroad needed:

The Solution: Verkada + Integrated Physical Security

Harris Technology Services designed and deployed a multi-layered security system:

30 Verkada Cloud-Managed Cameras

We installed 30 Verkada cameras across the Memphis rail corridor, providing:

Perimeter Hardening

Operational Integration

The technology was paired with operational changes — new direct train routes to reduce dwell time in high-risk areas, coordinated scheduling, and close collaboration between railroad security and local law enforcement.

The Results

Within a year of deployment:

"As we see incidents like this start to develop into trends, we'll be able to apply this template."

Sean Douris, Chief of Police, Public Safety & Infrastructure Protection

Why Cloud Cameras Made the Difference

A traditional NVR-based camera system could have provided footage — but it wouldn't have delivered the same outcome. Here's why Verkada's cloud platform was critical:

Is Your Facility Next?

Whether you're securing rail yards, warehouses, distribution centers, or multi-site operations, the same approach applies: cloud-managed cameras integrated with physical security measures deliver measurable results.

We deploy Verkada, Avigilon, and Lumana cameras for organizations of all sizes — from 10-camera office installations to 500+ camera enterprise rollouts.

Call 1-877-877-9080 or schedule a free security assessment to see what's possible for your facilities.

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