In The News

Truck stops top spot for cargo theft

Truck stops and rest areas are the most targeted locations for cargo thefts, accounting for more than one-third of all incidents, followed by modal yards and unsecured locations, such as drop lots and motel and restaurant parking lots, based on statistics compiled by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.


Chubb’s statistical study also shows that consumer electronics, food and clothing are the three most stolen cargoes, and thefts of these and other items occur most often during the weekend, according to statistics compiled by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.


“Cargo thieves are opportunists, and these statistics indicate where, when and how they are likely to strike and the type of goods they are likely to target,” said Barry Tarnef, a marine loss control specialist for Chubb Marine Underwriters. “Although many incidents go unreported, cargo crime in the United States is estimated to cost businesses several billions of dollars per year.”


Chubb compiled 3½ years (from January 2005 through June 2008) of cargo theft data from the International Cargo Security Council, Transported Asset Protection Association, news reports and Chubb claims


Of the 1,316 cargo theft incidents compiled by Chubb, 52 percent occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Truck stops and rest areas accounted for 39 percent of the thefts; modal yards owned, operated or managed by trucking companies, railroads or steamship lines were next with 27 percent; and unsecured locations—drop lots, motel, restaurant and mall parking lots and on-street sites—were the locations for one-fourth of the thefts. Warehouse burglaries accounted for 6 percent, and hijackings represented 3 percent.


Consumer electronics—mostly televisions and DVD players—were stolen in more than 15 percent of the incidents, followed by food and food products (14 percent), clothing and footwear (10 percent), computers and related equipment (8 percent), metals (5 percent) and pharmaceuticals (5 percent).