Who is the Ice Pick Bandit? Theft in 2025
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18 months. 6 states. Over 1,000 tires.
And still no arrests.
It began as a slew of similar crimes: Along the I-75, truckers began reporting their tires, brake lines, and airbags being damaged with small punctures, likely the product of an ice pick.
As the months dragged on, the crime continued. As damages piled high, the “Ice Pick Bandit” evolved into something like folklore.
Who is the Ice Pick Bandit? Should truckers be worried about a vandal with a vendetta? What does the Ice Pick Bandit’s spree tell us about crime in 2025?
Let’s start at the beginning.
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What We Know About the Ice Pick Bandit
In June of 2023, the?Florida Highway Patrol?reported six incidents of intentionally damaging semi-truck tires.
They made this official statement:
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is currently investigating a series of criminal mischief incidents in which multiple semi-tractor trailer tires have been intentionally deflated by an unknown suspect in Columbia County. These incidents have occurred during nighttime hours while semi-tractor trailers are parked overnight at various entrance and exit ramps of Interstate I-75 at the US 90, State Road 47 and US 41/441 exits.
A few months later, the Ice Pick Bandit made another appearance in Georgia.
Image courtesy of?Overdrive Online.
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Tragically, these minuscule holes amounted to?$15,000?in damage.
Not even a month later, two more attacks occurred in October. The Florida Highway Patrol reported the following:
“We have had two additional incidents — one on the 23rd and one on the 24th, both in Columbia County on I -10, at the U.S. 41 exit and at the U.S. 441 exit. We do not know if an ice pick is being used — but it is something similar in nature that pierces the tire with a tiny hole.”
Six months passed before the bandit made headlines again.
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In April, an owner-operator along I-75 discovered their 11 tires punctured and trailer lines cut in Georgia.
More time passed before tragedy struck again in Tennessee. This time, a dashcam was able to capture the bandit’s appearance.
Image courtesy of?Florida Highway Patrol.
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In this destructive session, the bandit caused over $30,000 in damages.
Most recently, two weeks before this article was published, the bandit outdid himself: Over three days, the Ice Pick Bandit destroyed over 1,000 tires.
Unbelievably, the bandit is still at large. Carriers along I-75 are advised to remain vigilant for suspicious activity.
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What Does the Ice Pick Bandit Tell Us About Crime in 2025?
Tragically, freight crime in 2025 has reached unprecedented levels. Consider these facts to illustrate the scope of the epidemic.
The Ice Pick Bandit may express the growing criminal population in the freight industry. Some experts have speculated the bandit could be a soured carrier frustrated by market conditions.
To the hardworking carriers that continue to move the nation forward, we implore all to exercise extreme caution.
Though this article explicitly addresses theft, it provides several great tips for deterring crime:?Freight Theft At a High: Guide to Theft Prevention.
Stay safe, carriers.
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The?England Carrier Services?(ECS) division offers various services for carriers ranging from maintenance to support. As ECS members, carriers have access to nationwide discounts on fuel and tires from dedicated team members committed to finding the best price. ECS also provides factoring services with benefits such as same-day funding to a bank account or fuel card. These options allow carriers the freedom to focus on growing their business while saving time and money.