Cargo theft reporting is on the rise, which officials attribute to an improvement in collaboration and data sharing between the insurance and transportation industries and law enforcement.
According to a recent survey by CargoNet, which develops and manages a national cargo theft database and secure information sharing system in the U.S., reports that most cargo thefts last year involved electronics, followed by foodstuffs. Base metals and apparel and accessories, were the next most stolen types of cargo.
The report also found that most cargo theft incidents occurred on the weekend at locations such as truck stops, carrier/terminal lots, and unsecured parking lots.
Officials say the number of reported thefts has increased over the last year.
The database “can help law enforcement and supply chain professionals reduce risk by pinpointing areas of vulnerability and providing guidance to improve supply chain security protocols.”
“This report is an example of how far we’ve come in public-private collaboration efforts at a time when budgetary pressures make such strategic alliances more important than ever,” said Tony Canale, vice-president of Verisk Crime Analytics. “We have much further to go, but the momentum is building.”
The Canadian Trucking Alliance has also spent the last year promoting its own cargo theft incident report form it developed with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
The collection of data on cargo crime incidents represents the first and essential step to gaining additional resources to fight the increasing problem of cargo crime in Canada.
