Cargo theft a growing problem in EMEA

In 2014, losses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as a result of cargo theft totaled US$80 million, according to the Transported Asset Protection Association. The association reported an average of  three major cargo crimes occurred each day in 2014, targeting high-value, easy-to-steal goods in the supply chain, with an average loss of $221,000 each day.

For the entire year, TAPA recorded 1,102 incidents in Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions. The use of violence by organized criminal gangs in 2014 increased by 4.5 percent over the previous year.  There were 102 violent hijackings of trucks, notably in France, Italy and South Africa.

The top ten cargo crimes in 2014 involved a combined loss of $35 million. There were 15 thefts from facilities and vehicles throughout the year, with losses exceeding $1 million. Criminal gangs, the report said, targeted scratch cards, cosmetics, consumer electronics, clothing, footwear, tobacco products, pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, car parts, tires and cash.

TAPA said there were 157 incidents in 2014 involving losses in excess of $107,000 each. Germany and the United Kingdom saw the highest increase of incidents, with Germany recording the highest number of freight crimes in 2014 – a 42.5 percent increase over 2013, or 285 cargo thefts. The U.K., which had 175 theft incidents, had the highest jump, with 98.8 percent more cargo crimes over 2013. However, the Netherlands, which had the most cargo crime in 2013, saw a drop of 9.7 percent compared to 2013, but still recorded 258 incidents.

Most of the thefts were from vehicles ( more than 500 crimes), which represented more than 45 percent of all incidents in 2014, but 193 were from facilities. TAPA’s analysis revealed that 92.8 percent of the 1,102 cargo crimes in the EMEA region in 2014 took place in 10 countries: Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain, Austria, Sweden and South Africa.

The data collected by TAPA came from its members, law enforcement agencies and credible media sources.

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