US cargo crime hits new high
More trucks are hijacked, but better security means gangs are forced to target lower-value shipments
Cargo crime in the US hit another record high in 2011, as criminal gangs escaped with hauls worth an average of almost $320,000 – but this figure is down on recent years.
In its annual US Cargo Theft Report, FreightWatch International, a global logistics security services provider, said 974 cargo theft incidents were recorded last year.
CEO Barry Conlon said: “While the rate of theft continues to rise, we are pleased to see the average value per incident begin to decline.
“This shows that shippers, and the industry as a whole, are beginning to secure their high-value cargo more effectively, forcing criminals to target less-valuable loads.”
Of the 974 cargo thefts recorded, 853 (87.5%) were full‐truckload or container thefts and 34 (3.4%) were burglaries at freight facilities. 2011 also saw more crimes by deception, with 38 recorded for the year, accounting for 4% of all incidents.
According to FreightWatch, the most commonly targeted loads were food and beverage products, electronics and building materials. Specific items most targeted by criminals – owing to their ease of movement on the black market – include TVs, canned food, mobile phones and canned energy drinks.
A substantial decline in the total value of pharmaceuticals stolen for the year was the most significant contributing factor to the decrease in the loss value per incident, said Freightwatch.
In previous years, the average loss per pharmaceutical theft averaged between $3.5 million and $4 million, but thefts in 2011 were just over a quarter of those figures.
The top six states for cargo theft last year were California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Georgia and Illinois.
In its annual US Cargo Theft Report, FreightWatch International, a global logistics security services provider, said 974 cargo theft incidents were recorded last year.
CEO Barry Conlon said: “While the rate of theft continues to rise, we are pleased to see the average value per incident begin to decline.
“This shows that shippers, and the industry as a whole, are beginning to secure their high-value cargo more effectively, forcing criminals to target less-valuable loads.”
Of the 974 cargo thefts recorded, 853 (87.5%) were full‐truckload or container thefts and 34 (3.4%) were burglaries at freight facilities. 2011 also saw more crimes by deception, with 38 recorded for the year, accounting for 4% of all incidents.
According to FreightWatch, the most commonly targeted loads were food and beverage products, electronics and building materials. Specific items most targeted by criminals – owing to their ease of movement on the black market – include TVs, canned food, mobile phones and canned energy drinks.
A substantial decline in the total value of pharmaceuticals stolen for the year was the most significant contributing factor to the decrease in the loss value per incident, said Freightwatch.
In previous years, the average loss per pharmaceutical theft averaged between $3.5 million and $4 million, but thefts in 2011 were just over a quarter of those figures.
The top six states for cargo theft last year were California, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, Georgia and Illinois.
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