When your equipment or cargo is stolen, our Special Investigations Group (SIG) goes to work tracking down leads and working with law enforcement to recover stolen property. Scott Cornell, Special Investigations Group Manager, has an insider's perspective on equipment and cargo theft. He shared his insight with Drive Times recently in this interview.

Q: Is cargo theft a bigger problem today than 5 or 10 years ago?

A: The answer to this depends largely on the school you come from. In other words, some say it has grown, others say that no one can really know because much of it has never been tracked. Others say that it only appears to have grown because thefts are now being tracked better. In my opinion, it has grown both globally and domestically. I give this answer with specific thoughts in mind. We have seen a definite increase in gang-related activity and cargo theft domestically. The more these groups see that the profits are high and the risks are low, the problem will only get worse. Penalties for cargo theft are minimal in the U.S., and it usually requires multiple offenses before a criminal sees jail time, as long as the crime is committed without violence. In the U.S., although we have seen a slight increase in violent hijackings, it remains largely a non-violent crime. I am also of the opinion that there has been a decrease in cargo theft at the ports due to increased security, but I believe that this has led to an increase in cargo theft inland. Crime is rarely purged, it just moves to different locations. There are numerous statistics that support this theory.

Q: There is a common belief that cargo theft is only a problem if you transport high-value commodities or drive high-value equipment. Is this still true?

A: Not true. Although high-value commodities are stolen more often, we see loads ranging in value from $10,000 to millions of dollars. If thieves think they can move it (sell it), then they will take it.

Q: How is technology playing a role in preventing vehicle and cargo thefts?

A: Technology is becoming more and more prevalent in cargo theft prevention. Devices like covert tracking units are becoming smaller, cheaper and have batteries that last longer and can be hidden easily inside the trailers and the cargo itself. As a result, because this technology is being more widely used, there are more and more recoveries of high value loads.

Q: You lead a Special Investigation Group that investigates vehicle and cargo thefts. How does your group work to recover stolen property?

A: We use a multi-level strategy that includes the use of an incredible network of law enforcement and industry professionals that we have built and continue to build daily. We also respond quickly to conduct detailed investigations that follow leads developed either through suspects, involved parties or clues from the theft itself.

Q: Being an investigator for the Special Investigations Unit sounds like exciting work. Is it really?

A: To me, it is very exciting work. It's something I love doing. I've been doing it for 17 years. It's methodical work. It requires patience and a lot of strategic thinking, sort of like playing chess. You also have to be willing to do a lot of paperwork. People may think it's more glamorous than it really is, but the bottom line is, I love what I do.

Q: What are some recent success stories where your group has recovered stolen property?

A: One recent success story involved a Northland customer who had a load of candy stolen in the Atlanta area. Our Atlanta investigator immediately searched areas where trucks are known to be staged after they have been stolen. During that search the truck and cargo were found while the suspects were in the process of selling the cargo. The cargo was seized, and we were able to reach out to another client to fuel the truck's reefer unit and safeguard the load until the insured could arrive the following day to take the truck and cargo into his possession again. The load was delivered a little late but still intact.

Q: Based on your experience, what can drivers do to protect themselves and their cargo from being stolen?

A: The misconception is that most of the solutions are expensive. The truth is, most prevention strategies are free. It's more procedural than anything else. Drivers and companies need to put good common sense security procedures into place and diligently follow and enforce them every day.  It includes not leaving trucks and cargo unattended in unsecured areas, like truck stops, shopping center parking lots, and rest areas.  If all trucking companies and drivers did that, cargo thefts would be cut in half. Use some kind of anti-theft device. There are some good anti-theft devices out there, such as air brake locks, king pin locks, glad hand locks etc... However, if you buy them and don't use them, they will have little effect. There are also more expensive high-tech devices available that can help prevent thefts. Other basic theft prevention strategies include not staging cargo over the weekend and putting easily identifiable lettering on the trailer. Looking for a missing plain white trailer at truck stops or on the freeway is like looking for a star in the sky. Don't leave a bill of lading anywhere on the truck or trailer. This allows thieves to "shop the goods." Lock the inspection door on the back of the trailer. Remember, a basic cargo security rule is "cargo at rest is cargo at risk."