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TAPA crime incident rate doubles, but better reporting is suspected cause

THE Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) reports a 105 per cent year-on-year quarterly increase in cargo crime across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the association cautions that this is likely the result of better intelligence sharing.

The willingness of law enforcement agencies in the UK and the Netherlands to share cargo crime data with TAPA's means both countries feature at the top of EMEA's list of freight theft hotspots, said TAPA.

But TAPA has warned that the level of risk in the UK and Netherlands may be no greater than in a host of other countries where a reluctance to share intelligence results in a lower, but misleading, level of recorded crimes.

Said TAPA regional chief Thorsten Neumann: "There are many countries, such as France, Germany, Italy and South Africa, where we believe the majority of thefts from warehouse facilities and trucks are not reported to us."

Food and drink were the most stolen items with 53 incidents and a 10.9 per cent year-on-year increase. Other major losses were pharmaceuticals, clothing, footwear, furniture, household appliances, computers, toys, games, tools, building materials, cosmetics and tyres.

More than 89 per cent of theft occurred from or of trucks. TAPA also recorded 24 cases of theft from facilities or 4.9 per cent as well as 10 hijackings, seven of which took place in South Africa.

TAPA is also launching a new secure parking programme for all parking owners "to help identify and increase the number of secure parking places in the region through certification, partnership and mutual recognition.

TAPA members will now have access to a new online tool that will incorporate a route planner, a secure parking locator, site information and contact details.

It will also have an incident history overlay showing the locations of previous cargo crimes reported to TAPA on the routes companies are planning to use