Illinois sheriff follows stolen cargo trailer’s GPS tracker to warehouse stuffed with over $2 million in stolen goods
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) recovered more than $2 million worth of stolen items after using GPS data from a stolen cargo trailer to locate a warehouse in Oak Forest, Illinois.
According to the CCSO, the investigation started after a trailer was reported stolen from a facility in Joliet on Dec. 13. Investigators followed GPS trackers tied to the trailer, which ultimately led them to a warehouse in the 4100 block of 166th Street in Oak Forest.
Inside the warehouse, authorities recovered stolen property valued at more than $2 million, the sheriff’s office said.
For working drivers and fleets, the case is another reminder of how cargo theft investigations often hinge on small pieces of technology that keep moving freight visible after it disappears. GPS tracking—whether built into trailers, placed with loads, or used through fleet systems—can give law enforcement a starting point and a location, especially when stolen equipment is moved quickly across nearby industrial areas.
The sheriff’s office has not released additional details in the information provided, including what specific goods were recovered or whether arrests were made.