The Changing World of Cargo Theft

Not so long ago cargo theft seemed to be a problem primarily in port cities like Los Angeles, Houston, and Miami.  The type of cargo being stolen usually involved high-value goods like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and alcohol. In general, if you didn’t travel to those areas, and you didn’t transport high-value consumer commodities, theft wasn’t a big problem. 

That has changed.  Security experts believe that organized crime groups that once thrived on narcotics trafficking have turned to cargo theft because it’s profitable, less dangerous and the penalties, if caught, are minimal.  These highly organized groups know what they want in advance, and the cargo they are after is often sold before it’s even stolen.  They take the time to figure out where to get what they want, often following a driver for hundreds of miles, if necessary, until he stops.  Increasingly, these groups are also targeting trucking company terminals with limited security where they know loaded trailers are parked.  Thefts continue to occur in port cities, but the problem has fanned out across the country to non-traditional cities and rural areas.

The type of cargo being stolen has changed too.  Today, just about any commodity that can be sold or shipped out of the country is  a theft target.  This includes commodities that are generally viewed as having low value or limited appeal to cargo thieves, such as lumber, metals, food, tires, etc.  Recently, for example, the value of metals, such as copper and aluminum, has exploded.  As a result, metal thefts have increased noticeably.

Ignoring security is no longer an option.  Trucking companies and drivers need to put good security practices to work to avoid becoming victims of cargo theft. 

Vehicle and Cargo Theft Prevention Tips.