Third quarter cargo theft data in the US shows storage facilities targeted in 45% of reported cases, according to a new report from insurer, TT Club, which also said that these cases are up from 20% of recorded cases in the same quarter in 2020.
The transport and logistics insurer said the fall in hijacking and robbery of vehicles from 67% to just 25% this year, is also coincidental with rise in theft of cargo units in unsecured storage areas.
"Congestion throughout the supply chain but particularly in and around ports is a significant contributory factor to this diversification of theft types," TT Club said.
Increased storage theft noted
TT Club and supply chain services and solutions team at BSI, also highlighted the increased risk of theft from storage facilities seen over the past few months in the United States.
The firms said the changes in theft patterns from the same quarter last year highlight a trend away from "on the move" targets to those locations where cargo is temporarily stored and delivered.
These locations include traditional warehouses and depots where containers and trailers are being held awaiting collection, many of which are temporary facilities in port areas without adequate security regimes.
"As the diagrammatic comparisons below show, the largest rise in the methods and locations for cargo theft was from facilities: the percentage of the total increasing to 25% in the third quarter this year in contrast with just 7% in 2020," the report said, adding that at the other extreme theft of vehicles fell from a dominant 47% in 2020 to a surprisingly low 15%; in addition, hijackings halved from 20% to 10%.
"The is little doubt that the problems of supply chain disruption that are currently bedevilling the US freight transport system, particularly that of container congestion at ports and inland hubs, is creating increased opportunities for thieves," commented Mike Yarwood, TT Club's managing director, loss prevention.
"The static nature of cargo in these circumstances, often stored in temporary and less secure facilities, leads to criminal ingenuity adapting the modus operandi of theft in a typically resourceful way," he added.
TT noted that it is keen to use the "insightful data" provided by BSI Screen in identifying sifts in cargo theft trends and bring them to the attention of operators in as timely as a fashion as possible.
"Whatever the location and means of cargo theft such incidents can often be averted through straightforward due diligence, management processes and employee vetting and training," Yarwood added.
