Covert asset tracking is now a viable weapon within the war against cargo theft – but slow deployments are allowing cargo theft to rise in an uncontrolled fashion. Law enforcement agencies across the around the world are reporting a startling increase in cargo theft. Here are a few of the key indicators:
- Worldwide $30-50 billion in cargo is stolen every year, with over half stolen by organized crime
- In 2009, sources report between 700-900 truckloads worth between $400-500M were stolen in the US alone (FreightWatch International & Chubb Corporation)
- In Southern California alone during 2009, bandits made off with 29 million (California Highway Patrol)
- The average loss per theft is $350,000, however some loads can be valued at tens of millions of dollars – such as with pharmaceutical shipments
Unlike the violent cargo thefts of the 1960s, current theft profiles have shifted dramatically:
- Prime targets are often easily resold consumer goods, electronics, beverages, clothing and cigarettes
- Loads are often followed from the plant or distribution hub, until opportunity presents itself
- Thefts are typically non-violent, occurring when truckers are dining or showering, thieves simply wait and watch.
- Often thieves target drop lots, or when trailers are temporarily uncoupled by drivers running errands
- Fraudsters use Internet and high tech methods to forge official documents and or establish fictitious companies
- Trailers are typically found just a few miles from the theft, often repainted or disguised
- Bribes are frequently used to obtain information on valuable shipments
Research has shown that the reasons for increase in transportation crime include:
- Spread of organized global crime syndicates
- Drug trafficking organizations provide capital, networks and marketing systems for stolen cargo; helping to launder drug monies
- Smarter criminals are increasing using high technology information techniques
- Cargo theft often offers relatively low risk, high payoff targets
- Low rate of successful criminal prosecution and lenient sentences
- Slow adoption of systems that track and trace merchandise
- Security weaknesses in intermodal systems and websites that support cargo transportation
- The lack of effective commercial and law enforcement cargo theft tracking systems
- Corruption among corporate, boarder and port authorities
To counteract these trends, law enforcement and corporations must aggressively implement prevention techniques, including:
- Improved locks, seals and containers
- Truck stop and drop lot operators improve security and technical surveillance
- Enhanced security within corporate and information sharing networks
- Cargo security managers must learn and adopt high technology practices
- Deployment of cargo tracking systems
- Better training for law enforcement on cargo theft
- Enhanced cooperation between domestic and international law enforcement agencies
GPS based cargo theft prevention solutions for shippers of high value assets are now commercially available. Covert asset tracking solutions are enabled via low cost wireless GPS trackers, often featuring Assisted GPS (A-GPS) technology. A-GPS enables asset location fixes within buildings and other environments that defeat traditional GPS receivers.
