Cargo theft incidents have been on the increase for a while, with another incident highlighting its growing concern in the US. In a recent incident that took place in New Jersey, the cops arrested four Philly men who tried to steal meat from a parked truck.
Another cargo theft incident took place in Chicago where the robbers tried to steal over 259 cases of electronics. Such incidents show that driver confrontations have become more frequent than ever.
Alarming Incidents Taking Place Frequently
The ongoing theft incidents in the US have alerted the cargo industry to take preventive measures. But the thieves have become cleverer than ever. The suspects are now calling in backup for large hauls, which typically means they are collaborating with more individuals to pull off large-scale criminal operations. Following are some alarming trends that are raising concerns:
- Pilferage is becoming increasingly common at Chicago staging areas
- Robbers are targeting high value goods like meat, alcohol and seafood
- Hotspots for cargo thefts have also started to rise in Arizona and the rest of the Southwest
- Documented strategic theft incidents are on an increase
NJ Cracked Down on ‘Beef Bandits’
In a recent cargo theft in New Jersey, four suspects named Shaun Coleman, 23, Salahudin Reddy, 37, Rashan Clark-Reddy and Hanif Tucker,31 were arrested. The sting was dubbed as- ‘Operation Beef Bandit’ where the four suspects were observed to occupy a parked occupied tractor trailer.
They stole boxes containing high value goods like meat, alcohol and seafood. These suspects have been involved in similar thefts over the past three years across the tri-state area- the police said in a statement. Two of these four suspects tried to ram the police car intentionally to escape from the scene. But fortunately, all four suspects got arrested.
The Chicago Theft to Wild Chase Pursuit
The act of pilferage is seen becoming common in Chicago city. This time a routine theft became a wild chase pursuit with suspects that attempted to surround the truckload. The suspects first swiped 259 cases of electronics from the parked trailer and then attempted to surround it. But fortunately, the truck driver managed to evade them as per the reports.
Such incidents highlight the increasing number of driver confrontations and raise concerns about driver safety.
How to Stay Safe?
While cargo theft incidents are becoming unstoppable, if truckers start to be vigilant, they can avoid such instances. Some of the ways to stay safe include:
- Avoid parking vehicles outside delivery locations
- Keeping constant communication throughout the supply chain
- Pay attention while stopped
- Aim for same day deliveries
- Stay vigilant about known crime hotspots
It is advised to take some other preventive measures like opting for real time visibility, remote compliance monitoring and contextual intelligence.
The Way Forward
As cargo thefts only seem to get worse before they get better, it’s time we ensure to follow all security measures. From pilferage to driver confrontations, criminals are planning more aggressive ways to plan their thefts. The need of the hour is to enforce necessary laws that protect truck drivers and ensure cargo safety.