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Criminals target warehouses during lockdown

[ July 15, 2020   //   ]

There has been a change in cargo criminal behaviour and tactics during the UK’s recent lockdown, says international freight transport insurer TT Club.

According to data from the Freight Unit of the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) restrictions on movement led to an increase in local activity and thefts from warehouses, something less frequently experienced up to now, it says.

In recent weeks there have been a number of “hook-up” thefts, whereby entire loaded trailers are stolen from premises, underlining the need for physical barriers, king pin locks, perimeter fencing, CCTV and security guards.

Now, as restrictions on movement are lifted in the UK, stakeholders need to be ever more vigilant during what is predicted to be a very active period of cargo theft.

The Freight Unit is part of the NaVCIS, a national police unit that acts as a bridge between the police and industry.  Different sections of the service, of which the Freight Unit is one, also handle crime involving ports as well as vehicle finance fraud and agricultural machinery.

TT Club managing director loss prevention, Mike Yarwood, said: “This is a great demonstration of the valuable work being undertaken by NaVCIS’ Freight Unit. Unfortunately, the Unit would not exist without the continued support and sponsorship of multiple private entities.”

He called on all potential stakeholders to support it.

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