Protect What Matters: Secure Logistics for Luxury and High-Value Goods
Turn tracking into real-time control to safeguard high-value shipments from origin to doorstep.
August 20, 2026 • 5 minute read
Author: Jessica Denbo Smith, Director, US Marketing, UPS
Key Points
- Cargo theft is rising by about 60% year over year to $725 million in 2025 as thieves focus on high-value shipments.1
- Purpose-built packaging can help mitigate product damage, theft and tampering.
- Technologies like RFID-embedded sensors, package intercept services and PIN verification add layers of protection for high-value shipments.
Q&A with Rohit Bhalla: How can businesses enhance parcel security for high-value items?
Shipping high-value, delicate and time-sensitive items requires purpose-built packaging and greater journey control, including real-time tracking and secure storage along the way. Rohit Bhalla, High-Value Goods Strategic Lead at UPS, explains the ways leading small- and medium-size businesses are protecting high-value shipments from damage and theft, and offers solutions for reducing last-mile risks.
What should businesses be thinking about when shipping sophisticated electronics, jewelry and semiconductors?
“Protecting high-value shipments remains paramount. Supply chain crime by value is climbing fast. Losses hit $725 million in 2025, up 60% from the year before, as thieves zeroed in on high-value shipments.1 In other words, the risk is only getting more intense, and that makes proactive protection essential.
At a baseline, every high-value goods shipment needs protection across three areas:
- Damage: Use the right materials and handling protocols. We protect high-value shipments through purpose-built packaging and strict handling protocols.
- Theft: Theft deterrence relies on visibility at every transfer point, driver accountability and secure handoff with required signatures or secure pickup locations.
- Tampering: While there’s no single fix for tampering, we’ve found that the most effective approach layers visibility, secure packaging and the ability to intercept a shipment’s journey while it’s already in the network.”
How does RFID technology help businesses ensure safe and secure delivery for these items?
“RFID really changes the visibility ecosystem. It gives you a level of tracking that didn’t exist before. RFID technology is embedded in labels, on vehicles, and at loading bays. So, customers can see when a package has been picked up, how it is handled, when it is off the trailer, which warehouse it has entered, and when it’s out for last-mile delivery.
Rather than knowing your shipment will arrive sometime today, you’ll know when to expect it. That’s critical when you’re shipping something of high value.
UPS is leading the way with RFID sensing technology. We’re the first major logistics provider to roll out RFID technology across our network at scale. This level of tracking creates a continuous chain of custody.
The result is clearer visibility from pickup through final delivery, which strengthens both security and the customer experience.”
What are the top mistakes businesses make when shipping high-value goods?
“Many businesses treat all high-value shipments the same. If you’re shipping a watch or a piece of expensive jewelry, it's different from shipping data center components. You should consider the appropriate packaging material and remember that non-discreet packaging can increase risk. Watch out for these giveaways bad actors may look for when targeting high-value shipments:
- Brand names on the return address label
- Brand logos or slogans
- Conspicuous brand colors
- Easily identifiable shapes without over-packing
Another mistake: not considering the delivery mode. Ground services provide a shipping window of one to five days, so for a guaranteed delivery date and reduced time in transit, you may opt for UPS Next Day Air® or UPS 2nd Day Air®.
Also be sure to consider where you’re delivering to, and whether it’s a safe location. Shippers can get a clearer picture with UPS DeliveryDefense™ technology, which uses AI software to identify high-risk delivery locations and enable customers to reroute at-risk shipments to one of the many The UPS Store or UPS Access Point® locations. With protected PIN delivery, shippers can require a PIN to ensure the package is picked up by an authorized recipient.
Neglecting shipping insurance is another pitfall that leaves high-value shipments vulnerable to damage and theft. Evaluating insurance options and choosing the right coverage gives shippers peace of mind, whether it’s a multi-mode and multi-carrier option like InsureShield® or a white glove, integrated solution like Parcel Pro® Select.
Answering these questions can help you avoid mistakes and make the best shipping decisions:
- How valuable is the item? Is it a high-theft category?
- Is the packaging protecting it and concealing its value?
- How much security is needed through final delivery?
- What is your financial protection strategy to insure against loss?
In the end, you need to know which level of protection is best for your shipment. If you’re shipping a $500 piece of jewelry, would an adult signature with a verified ID be sufficient? If you’re shipping $10,000 worth of fine jewelry or a $20,000 data center component, you may opt for an encrypted PIN that must match with the recipient and the delivery driver before the shipment is released.”
How do you turn tracking into actionable control and not just status updates?
“You need a system that helps you understand the journey and pairs visibility with intervention tools. Turning tracking into actionable control means moving from Where is it? to What do we do next?
Findings from the 'UPS B2C Retail Consumer Study' reveal that 85.3% of shoppers track their deliveries consistently when waiting for an order.* But for the business, tracking alone is passive. You need a decision engine that lets you redirect shipments mid-transit, hold shipments at secure facilities, or change delivery timing or location. For example, if a high-value shipment is delayed by two or more hours at the final hub, you can intercept and hold it for pickup.
UPS Delivery Intercept® service is extremely helpful by letting you reschedule a delivery, reroute a shipment to a new address, hold the shipment for pickup or return the shipment to the shipper.”
Where are the biggest security vulnerabilities, and how are they mitigated?
“The weakest spot in the whole process is the handoff, the moment a package moves between people or locations. So that handoff needs to be as smooth and visible as possible with no gaps.
The next biggest risk is the last mile when a package might end up in the hands the wrong person without signature verification or left exposed on a doorstep. That’s where you see porch piracy. To reduce those risks, UPS uses tighter controls, RFID tracking, a single driver advantage and secure pickup options.
One solution is UPS My Choice® for Business, which acts as a control layer over the tracking data, turning it into something you can use. It’s a central dashboard that shows all inbound and outbound shipments and enables delivery changes directly from tracking. Rather than just seeing what’s happening, you can step in and adjust in near real time.”
How are high-value shipments handled differently inside the delivery network?
“High-value items, time-critical parts or goods more prone to theft are handled a little differently within the UPS network. At every step, there’s more verification, fewer touch points and faster escalation when anything looks off. Even the packaging is kept consistent and discreet, so it doesn’t draw attention.
Routing is more direct and predictable, with added visibility through tools such as delivery Parcel Pro Select: Insured Shipping for High‑Value Packages tracking and RFID scanning. At delivery, there are added safeguards in place, such as signature requirements, PIN verification, photo proof of delivery or dropping the package off at a UPS Access Point® location for pickup to make sure it gets into the right hands.”
1 2025 Supply Chain Risk Trends, Verisk, January 2026.
The “UPS B2C Retail Consumer Study” was distributed by a panel in an online format to 1,579 respondents in the U.S., with each respondent being compensated at an agreed-upon rate for their time. Each survey took approximately 10 minutes to complete. Our survey ran November 6-10, 2025. Question: *How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about your shopping habits? Please select the column that best applies for each statement.
Individual results and options will vary. UPS makes no promises of any specific outcome in this document but instead provides only example outcomes based on certain UPS customer experiences.