Trucking News · Pennsylvania · November 1, 2026

Philadelphia Police Check for a Link Between a Burning Car of Beef on I-95 and a Truck Theft, Warn Truckers

By Big Rig Daily Staff

A burning car on I-95 may be tied to the Oct. 29 beef theft in Northeast Philadelphia, the fourth cargo theft in the city in about a month. Police say thieves cut the rear padlock on a parked tractor-trailer on the 5200 block of Devereaux Street, in the Wissinoming neighborhood, around 4 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, and took five pallets of frozen beef worth about $10,000, according to 6abc, which published its report on Oct. 30. Truckers who park in the area are being urged to take extra care.

The burning car

A source told 6abc that crews responded to a burning Dodge Journey on I-95 near the Aramingo Avenue exit just before 5 a.m. Firefighters reportedly found piles of smoking meat inside, in the same boxes taken from the trailer. More cases had been thrown over the side of the highway onto train tracks below, according to the source.

What police have and have not said

The station reported that the car "may be connected" to the theft, based on its source. Police have not confirmed the link. Capt. John Ryan of the Northeast Detectives said, "It's likely the same crew. We haven't made the connection yet." In that statement he was speaking about the series of thefts, which police count as the fourth in Philadelphia within a month. No arrests were reported in the story.

Advice to truckers

Police urged truckers to use hardened steel locks and to park in well-lit places, and they said they are increasing patrols in areas where truckers park. This theft involved a cut padlock on a parked trailer, which is why the locks are the focus of the advice.

More on the series

Big Rig Daily has followed the string of food thefts in the city, including our first report on this same Oct. 29 theft, when thieves spent about 25 minutes unloading beef while the trucker napped, and a snow crab theft from a truck with the trucker asleep inside. For a wider look at how cargo thieves operate, see the report on fake carriers and stolen MC numbers on load boards. The pre-trip habits in the pre-trip inspection checklist are a good place to build in a lock check as well.

What is still unknown

The sources reviewed by Big Rig Daily did not say who took the beef, whether the car is tied to the trailer theft, or whether the trailer's owner has been identified. Those questions are for investigators, and Big Rig Daily is not speculating.

Quick facts

• Theft: about 4 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, 5200 block of Devereaux Street, Philadelphia.
• Taken: five pallets of frozen beef worth about $10,000, according to police.
• Burning car: a Dodge Journey on I-95 near the Aramingo Avenue exit, just before 5 a.m., per a source.
• Link: not confirmed by police.
• Context: the fourth cargo theft in Philadelphia within a month.
• Arrests: none reported.

FAQ

What did thieves take from the Philadelphia trailer on Oct. 29?

Police say five pallets of frozen beef worth about $10,000 were taken from a parked tractor-trailer on Devereaux Street.

Is the burning car on I-95 connected to the Philadelphia beef theft?

A source told 6abc it may be, but police have not confirmed it.

What are Philadelphia police telling truckers about cargo theft?

Use hardened steel locks and park in well-lit areas. Police say they are increasing patrols where truckers park.

A question for readers

How many more loads have to disappear before Philadelphia builds secure truck parking?

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