CARGO THEFT DURING HOLIDAYS

Cargo theft is still an issue, especially over the holidays. And I'm not just talking about the holidays; cargo theft is common during any time of year when businesses are closed for an additional day or two. But, exactly, what is cargo theft? On the Texas Department of Public Safety website, I found a fairly extensive definition. Cargo theft is defined as "the criminal taking of any cargo, including but not limited to goods, chattels, money, or baggage, that constitutes, in whole or in part, a commercial shipment of freight moving in commerce, from any pipeline system, railroad car, motor truck, or other vehicle, or from any tank or storage facility, station house, platform, or depot, or from any vessel or wharf, or from any aircraft, air terminal, airport, aircraft terminal or air navigation facility, or from any aircraft, air terminal, airport, aircraft terminal or air navigation facility, or from any intermodal container, intermodal chassis, trailer, container freight station, warehouse, freight distribution facility, or freight ?consolidation facility.” Cargo theft occurs when cargo is taken, either by an individual or as part of a bigger organized crime ring.

Cargo theft comes in a variety of sizes and shapes. There are five basic cargo theft strategies to be aware of, according to Travelers Insurance. The first is simple cargo theft, in which goods are physically taken from a site. The second type of cargo theft is strategic cargo theft, which employs deceitful methods such as fraud and false information to persuade brokers to give up a load. Third, technology is being used to obscure the position of a stolen container or vehicle, such as GPS blockers. Fourth, cyber-attacks such as phishing scams and viruses are used to get access to sensitive information. Pilferage, the stealing of little quantities of items that is generally ignored until a trailer or container is unloaded, is the fifth type of theft.

The threat of cargo theft is growing as supply chain problems persist and port backlogs continue to grow. In general, the longer goods is left unattended, the greater the risk of theft. Certain devices are in increasing demand due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage. It also implies that certain products that require chips, such as game consoles, are becoming more expensive. Higher-value products are always a target for cargo robbers, and the longer they sit, the more valuable they become.

Approximately $45 million in cargo thefts were reported through September, according to CargoNet, a branch of Verisk Analytics that records thefts along the supply chain for businesses. For the entire year of 2020, criminals targeted toilet paper and personal protective equipment, costing over $68 million. However, with port backlogs and the holiday season in full swing, theft is certain to increase in 2021.

The state with the most reported cargo thefts was California, followed by Texas and Florida. The West Coast's computer chip shortage has resulted in an increase in electronic thefts. This year, cargo robbers have targeted refrigerated trucks used to convey food on the East Coast.

This year, cargo criminals have been more cautious, relying on pilferage rather than stealing the entire truck or container. Organized theft rings will steal a few goods at several locations along the journey, increasing the likelihood that the driver will not detect any missing items until they arrive at the final destination. When it comes to interstate cargoes, the driver has no means of knowing where the item was stolen, making it difficult to even alert the appropriate authorities.

CargoNet offers some sound tips to help lessen the risk of cargo theft and a possibly unpleasant Christmas season. To begin, corporations should boost their security efforts by arranging for same-day delivery of short-haul supplies rather than multi-day shipments. The container's idle time will be reduced as a result of this. Second, businesses can install hidden tracking devices and investigate ways to counter GPS jammers. Trailer burglaries can also be avoided by using high-security locks. The final item of advice is directed towards the drivers. Drivers should not leave their vehicles or shipments alone, and they should be aware of any vehicles following them. Because of the continued supply chain disruptions, cargo theft is likely to increase. However, if you follow the above advice, you will be able to feel it to a reduced extent.

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