Parked straight as an arrow, the Cobalt blue tractor and scrubbed-clean white trailer raised few eyebrows among the 10 other trucks parked in one of Miami’s many pastel and palm tree-lined warehouse districts.

The trailer, however, was loaded with stolen electronics. It hadn’t moved in 14 hours and was being watched by a team of undercover police detectives.

 “The driver’s still asleep,” said a detective sergeant, who wheeled an unmarked SUV past the parked rig that mid-September morning.

An estimated $25 billion to $30 billion in retail goods are stolen every year in the United States, with more than two-thirds stolen from commercial trucks, according to the National Cargo Security Council. Experts say a new wave of cargo theft rings, which operate more like small-scale mafia families than common street gangs, are responsible.

Many of the cargo thefts are investigated by Miami-Dade’s Tactical Operations Multi-Agency Cargo Anti-Theft Squad, also known as TOMCATS. Lieutenant Twan Uptgrow, commander of TOMCATS, said his investigators have linked at least one theft ring with terrorist groups outside the United States.

“Some of the buyers have ties to terrorist groups,” said Uptgrow.

Police say relatively low prosecution and very profitable rewards have fueled the growing crime. The right load can fetch $15 million to $20 million or more in goods, and first-time offenders risk little prison time compared to those convicted of violent or sex crimes.

When times are tough for workers, times are busier for thieves and police, Uptgrow said.

The white trailer pulled by the blue truck was at least the third scheduled operation of the week by Miami-Dade’s cargo theft squad.

“With the economy the way it is, we’re breaking records,” Uptgrow said.

Uptgrow was preparing to add more staff to his team when he spoke with Land Line early in the summer.

TOMCATS

Miami – with one of the nation’s busiest ports – is a hub for stolen and counterfeit goods.

Television shows have showcased the city’s tropical warmth, art-deco urban architecture and international flavor.

The nuts and bolts of police work, however, reveal the city’s gritty side.

TOMCATS investigators tracked the stolen electronics load for 28 hours, poised to watch the driver’s every move.

Detectives had watched a team remove the cargo from the stolen trailer, take inventory, and place it in a new trailer before it was hooked onto the blue truck.

The task force was founded as a pilot project in 1993 with the help of former Florida Sens. Bob Graham and Connie Mack, and support from a then-Calvin Klein executive who was frustrated by increasingly expensive bottom-line losses from truck thefts.

“One of our goals is to prosecute on a federal level if we can,” Uptgrow said. “Everybody within the task force is sworn federally, and they have local and state powers.”

Most detectives work deep undercover, and the detective sergeant asked that his name and face not be published.

Miami-Dade has a backlog of applicants wanting to work for the unit, which is one of several regional cargo theft task forces in the U.S.

Unlike other Miami-Dade police officers, TOMCATS officers don jeans, tennis shoes and designer shirts, though they’re sheathed in bulletproof vests and holstered guns.

Officers frequently work undercover, and rarely disclose names or allow their faces to be shown.

“They’ve watched us as much as we watch them,” said the sergeant, an 18-year police veteran.

A unit called Cargo Cats operates out of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in California, and similar cargo crime investigation units in New York, New Jersey, Houston and Memphis, according to the FBI.

The cargo theft investigation units typically are headed up by the FBI, which partners with local police departments.

In Miami-Dade, however, the 22-member TOMCATS unit is a more collaborative effort between the county police and the FBI. Several Miami-Dade detectives, as well as a U.S. Customs agent, a criminal analyst, a U.S. DOT officer, one Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a detective from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office work jointly with FBI agents to investigate the crimes.

The partnership allows TOMCATS to share in investigations and arrests, rather than merely work as a local assisting agency.

The police crackdown on cargo theft, however, has been matched by criminal organizations with their own creativity.

 “These groups are highly organized,” Uptgrow told Land Line. “For example, they can have a cargo theft group based out of south Florida; they will go to Kentucky, Texas, Georgia and other areas of the country to do surveillance on loads they want to take.

“They will rent vehicles in those areas, target locations to make thefts. They’re highly organized. They research it; they’ll know whether to pursue a load if it’s something they really want.”

The bad guys

A few minutes after 11 a.m., the blue truck’s driver awakes and starts stirring.

The sergeant leaves the area and lets other TOMCATS investigators do their job.

Truck cargo theft has often been associated with mafia or random thieves. TOMCATS officers say that in actuality many smaller groups have formed their own partnerships based more on making money than on traditional mafia hierarchy.

The theft rings often are described as “lateral” organizations that work together only through loosely based business relationships and less like traditional mafia families with established hierarchies, Uptgrow said. Their less formal approach makes it tougher to take them down than a traditional crime organization.

Many theft rings are composed of people with international connections. The groups are rarely larger than 25 members and are run by leaders who live in million-dollar homes and drive Land Rover SUVs among other high-dollar toys, police say.

Even though TOMCATS has seized everything from laptop computers to loads of dog food, organized theft rings mostly target specific loads of such valuables as electronics and pharmaceuticals, quickly moving the goods and selling products at 10 percent of retail cost.

The rings will fly their own drivers on commercial flights, or send them in rented cars, to track and later steal loads, Uptgrow said.

Earlier this year, TOMCATS stopped thieves who’d targeted a trailer with $17 million in computer chips.

“Those are the types of loads somebody targets,” Uptgrow said. “They know what they want to target.”

Many times, TOMCATS officers say, trailer thefts in the Midwest and southeastern U.S. are shipped out of the U.S. by container through the Port of Miami.

The rings now rapidly move stolen pallets from stolen trailers, sometimes taking only a few hours to steal and then fence the goods in the black market.

Recently, the gangs have begun efficiently separating pallets of stolen goods before they’re fenced – in the rings’ own version of LTL. Separating the stolen goods makes GPS-tracked loads harder to track, only adding to headaches police already face.

“It’s frustrating,” said the TOMCATS sergeant. “Every time we learn something they adapt.”

Earlier this summer, TOMCATS seized 48 pallets of Grey Goose vodka worth an estimated $1.2 million.

The sergeant said some theft rings will be caught after holding onto stolen goods too long.

Others will simply be caught by observant police.

Earlier this year, an officer spotted a large forklift sitting near a welding business and started investigating. His investigation led to the TOMCATS recovering 60,000 pounds of stolen marble.

But the billion-dollar industry of cargo crime also has its version of petty shoplifters.

As drivers and truck stops have dealt with increasing diesel theft, TOMCATS has seen a rapid increase in fuel theft among some local fuel delivery drivers.

The drivers will work with others to skim 200 or 300 gallons of fuel at a time, Uptgrow said, selling the fuel on their own.

Earlier this spring, TOMCATS stopped a black market fuel operation run out of a suspect’s backyard, in a residential neighborhood. The suspect had 15 large drums of fuel in his backyard. He pumped the fuel using electricity from a car battery and jumper cables.

“He had it rigged up to where just one match would blow up the entire neighborhood,” Uptgrow said. “If just one person had thrown a lit cigarette, it could have blown up the entire neighborhood.”

After an hour of patrolling one warehouse district surrounding the stolen electronics load, the TOMCATS sergeant took a cell phone call from an informant.

A stolen load of designer clothing was in the area.

Protecting your truck

Freightwatch Group is an international cargo security firm that specializes in theft prevention.

American cargo thieves rely mostly on nonviolent methods, the firm said in a company-issued paper in 2006. In Europe, however, cargo theft rings have become violent in response to increased theft prevention and enforcement, Freightwatch Group said.

“U.S. cargo theft is not likely to mimic Europe’s trend of violent cargo theft in the near term. U.S. distribution security practices are still weak and provide abundant opportunities for nonviolent thieves,” Freightwatch Group said. “However, as in Europe, increased awareness and new security practices could change the dynamic.”

Most truck hijackings occur within a few miles of the load’s pickup point, Uptgrow said.

“In some cases, freeway on and off-ramps have been particularly dangerous. They’ll climb up and force their way into the cab,” he said.

TOMCATS officers say they routinely notify large trucking companies that they’ve located a stolen trailer before the company is aware it’s missing.

Most loads have been stolen while a driver is away from the truck for dinner or on break, often while the truck is idling. Thieves simply drive off with the goods.

“It only takes these guys a minute,” said Uptgrow. “Since they’ve been following the load down the interstate, as soon as they see the opportunity they’ll go ahead and take it.”

TOMCATS officers advise truckers to plan ahead when possible and park in secure areas. It’s best to find rest stops and other spots where other truck drivers will see them. Watch for cars or vehicles following your truck when you leave the highway.

“Hijackers don’t like crowds. Don’t stop in deserted areas while waiting to make deliveries,” Uptgrow said. “Try to stop at reputable truck stops along the route, and maybe try not to stop at the same location each time.”

Team drivers also stand a much-improved chance of protecting their loads, he said. Company drivers working alone should have regular communication with their dispatchers.

TOMCATS urges truckers to call local police if they’re suspicious about another vehicle following them. Drivers pulled over by an unmarked police car should call 9-1-1 to verify.

 “A few hijackings have occurred in which persons have pretended to be police officers in unmarked cars,” Uptgrow said. “Try to pull over in a well-lit area where someone else can witness what’s going on.”

TOMCATS remained tightlipped about what happened in the mid-September stolen electronics stakeout with the blue truck towing a white trailer, saying only the investigation is ongoing.

Investigations can take several months and sometimes longer as the unit tries to arrest every connectable cargo thief they can, tying worker bees to the king bees leading the theft rings.

“Check back in a few months,” Uptgrow said.

Any trucking companies or drivers who think they can’t be targeted are living a fantasy, said Uptgrow, who compared cargo theft to home burglaries.

Most home burglars, however, aren’t willing to share profits among 20 or more partners or willing to buy airline tickets and rental car fees to land a score.

“If they really want your load,” he said, “they’re going to get it.”

Original story »

Date: 10/13/08

Location: Elkton, MD

Description: There was an attempted FTL cargo theft in Elkton, MD off I-95.

The driver stopped at the TA truck stop just north of Elkton, MD and went inside the facility for approximately 30 minutes. When he came out, he found his truck broken into and the engine running. There was evidence of the ignition having been hotwired. Looking at the trailer, there was evidence on the ENFORCER® Trailer Padlock to suggest that someone had tried to enter the trailer. The driver however was utilizing the ENFORCER® Air Cuff® Lock, which was still activated when he got back to his rig.  There was also an ENFORCER® ABLOY® Trailer Padlock on the trailer doors, which had prevented the perpetrator from actually entering the trailer.

Transport Security, Inc. works closely with a variety of law enforcement task forces to understand and control cargo crime.

Chicago Midwest Cargo Theft Initiative

In the Chicago area, the Midwest Cargo Theft Initiative (CTI) has been launched. Contact them by email for more information.

Los Angeles County Cargo CATs

In January 1990, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department started a new cargo theft investigative unit named Cargo CATs, the Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team (website). Cargo CATs is assigned to the Major Crimes Bureau of the Sheriff’s Department’s Detective Division, which oversees the team to ensure the maximum utilization of resources. The pro-active approach the Department has taken in the past with multi-jurisdictional programs to impact the transiet career criminal is the same approach that is now being applied to the ever increasing cargo theft problem throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California. The success demonstrated by Cargo CATs has proven that the surveillance and investigative abilities of a multi-jurisdictional team exceed that of any single agency. Since Cargo CATs began, it has recovered over $213.5 million in stolen property and made 1275 arrests, through January 1, 2006.

Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force (TAMCATS)

The Memphis Auto/Cargo Theft Task Force (ACTF) was formed in 1998 to address a significant crime problem involving the interstate transportation of stolen property, including motor vehicles, and major thefts from interstate shipments. The ACTF is currently comprised of officers and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Customs Service, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The primary objective of this task force is to reduce the number of automobile thefts, as well as cargo thefts, by the successful prosecution of known career criminals and their associates.

Miami-Dade Cargo Theft Task Force (TOMCATS)

The Tactical Operations Multi-Agency Cargo Anti Theft Squad (TOMCATS) (website) is comprised of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies including: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
The TOMCATS conduct target-orientated investigations into organized groups, individuals, businesses, and other enterprises engaged in continuing criminal conspiracies pertaining to the theft, distribution and exportation of stolen cargo. Detectives use a large variety of investigative techniques to infiltrate criminal organizations, gather evidence, make arrests, and recover high dollar stolen cargo shipments. All truck hijackings that occur in unincorporated Miami-Dade County are assigned to the task force for investigation. The TOMCATS recovers approximately $30 million in stolen property each year.

New Jersey State Police Cargo Theft Unit

The NJSP Cargo Theft Unit (website) is responsible for conducting criminal investigations and supporting the regional intelligence collection plan by collecting, evaluating, and disseminating intelligence data regarding cargo theft activity that affects and is related to the state of New Jersey. The Cargo Theft Unit responds to calls for assistance from other law enforcement agencies throughout the state and investigates individuals and groups engaged in cargo theft activity.

A seal can make the difference between a claim and no claim. Seals and the correct documentation can prevent most claims. Shortages, Mis-shipments, and Damage claims are the most common and can be reduced or prevented with seal and the correct seal documentation by supporting the carrier in arguments against theft and damage. In the case of a shortage if the load was sealed the entire time the carrier was in possession of it then there is no way that the carrier can be responsible for the shortage. The same is the case with mis-shipments; the carrier or someone else is not able to tamper with the load if it is sealed the entire time. The seal can protect the carrier in the event of loading damage claims as well. The seal process is a simple 4 step process and if done for every load can prevent many claims.

Step 1: Seal the load at the shipper
If the load is a live load, have the shipper seal the load once they have completed loading the trailer, preferably with a Shipper seal. If the shipper refuses or does not provide seals than the driver should seal the load with a company seal. For preloaded trailers the driver should verify if the load is sealed upon pickup, if it is proceed to step two. If the load is not sealed then the driver should inspect the load for proper securement and seal the load with a company seal.

Step 2: Document the seal on the Bill of Lading
Have the shipper document the seal number on the Bill of Lading. If the shipper refuses or in the case of a pre-loaded trailer is not available, then the driver should note the seal number on the bill of lading.

Step 3: Have the Consignee document the seal as being intact
This is the most crucial step, besides actually sealing the trailer. The driver should request that the consignee inspect the seal and document that the seal was “intact upon arrival” on the bill of lading before breaking the seal. Some consignees will not even look at the seal and request the driver break the seal. In cases such as this the driver should note on the bill of lading, in the same area where the seal number was documented originally, that the seal was intact upon arrival and the “consignee refused to sign”. The driver should initial the bill of lading in the same area to indicate that he signed for the seal documentation.

Step 4: Break the seal
The final step is to break the seal.

Multiple Stop Loads:
Treat each stop as a separate load in reference to seals. Repeat the entire seal process for each stop on a multiple stop load to realize the full protect against claims that seals can provide.

Seals and the correct documentation are the simplest way to prevent most types of claims. In summary make sure that the seal number is on the paperwork when picking up the load and is verified by the consignee upon delivery. The driver should always get initials or a signature and make sure that the BOL is noted “seal intact”. The shipper contract should also be reviewed regarding their requirements and this information should be supplied to the driver prior to them picking up or delivering a load. This gives the driver all the required information to understand their responsibilities regarding a particular customer. Once again, do not break any seal unless an authorized employee of the consignee gives the driver the oaky. This process is quick, simple, and can be done for all van/refrigerated loads minimizing the amount of claims received.

HARTFORD, Conn., Sep 08, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — According to the National Cargo Security Council, cargo theft is estimated to account for up to $25 billion in direct merchandise losses each year. With more than 675,000 registered interstate motor carriers moving 65 percent of the freight in the United States, the opportunity for theft is at an all time high. To combat the problem of cargo theft for its customers, assist law enforcement organizations, and help keep retail costs down for the public, Travelers Inland, in partnership with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), unveiled the Travelers Sting Trailer at the 2008 Chicago Midwest Cargo Theft Summit.
  “The transportation industry is plagued by cargo theft. The cost of theft spreads across the entire economy, not just at the consumer level, but in terms of other serious illegal activities often funded by cargo theft,” said Dick Rowley, President, Travelers Inland. “By building the Travelers Sting Trailer, not only are we helping our customers keep their business moving by safeguarding their cargo, we are providing law enforcement organizations across the country with much needed resources to catch the thieves responsible for cargo theft.”
  The Travelers Sting Trailer was built to provide the required evidence to aid in successful apprehensions of organized cargo theft rings. Travelers worked closely with the NICB and law enforcement organizations in the design and construction of the trailer.
  “The NICB, as a member of the National Commercial Vehicle and Cargo Theft Task Force, recognizes the tremendous economic impact that this kind of criminal activity has on our nation’s businesses, consumers and insurance companies,” said Joe Wehrle, NICB President and Chief Executive Officer. “The use of sting trailers has dramatically reduced the incidents of cargo theft in those areas where they are deployed. Having the Travelers Sting Trailer extends a very successful application of technology into the commercial transport environment.”
  The Travelers Sting Trailer can be viewed at the Chicago Midwest Cargo Theft Summit on September 8-9, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. CT. Scott Cornell, Travelers Specialty Investigations Group, will be available to answer questions on site and further explain why Travelers is committed to helping to eradicate cargo theft.
 

Travelers Inland brings together underwriting, engineering, claim and investigative professionals to help address the complex risk management and insurance needs of our customers, which may range from tailored insurance coverage and theft reduction strategies to timely claim settlements and even faster theft recoveries.

 Excuses or Reasons? Everyone has heard these when a load is stolen:“I only left it runnin’ for a few minutes to in and buy lottery tickets,” one driver might say.“I have always parked there and nobody ever stole my truck before,” another would offer.

OR

“I had to leave it running ’cause it takes too long for it to heat up/cool off inside if I don’t, ” said another. 

OR

“But, I still have my extra key,” said a baffled driver, “how was I supposed to know they would break a window and drive off with the load?”

I am sure you have all heard, perhaps even BETTER” reasons” than these from a driver who has returned to his/her parking spot and noticed his/her keys don’t fit in the truck that is now occupying that space. In most cases, the driver is lucky because he/she is still able to call in the loss. The driver has suffered no more than the embarrassment likely faced when explaining to the recruiter of his/her NEXT prospective employer whey he/she is currently unemployed. Actually, these are the lucky drivers. As we all know, in some cases, drivers have been seriously injured or worse, when someone really wants what’s inside that truck or trailer.Technology is a great thing, but it doesnt work well if the driver fails to apply it and basically makes it totally ineffective. If the driver isn’t going to take the time to shut the truck off, take the keys and lock the doors, why would they take the time to apply Air Cuff Locks, Glad Hand Locks, and King Pin Locks etc.? Maybe it’s not a case of being lazy or in hurry, but a lack of knowledge on how to properly apply the technology. Don’t assume they already know about security technology and how to make it work.We beat drivers over the head with Safety programs and messages to make sure they drive safely, thereby protecting themselves and the motoring public, but how often do we remind them that personal, vehicle and cargo security are also very important? We need to get back to basics and keep reminding them that part of being a Professional Truck Driver is accepting the responsibility for their own personal Safety and Security , as well as the security of their equipment and cargo.Train them, train them and train them! There a lot of new folks in the truck divining community who may not be aware of many of the dangers lurking  out there. Keep them informed. Use many good programs out there (Highway Watch, etc.) to give them tools to again protect themselves and others as well as equipment and cargo.

• �
  • Remind them to:
  • 1.       Adhere to Company policies related to stopping, parking and dropping equipment (Make sure they know what the policies are in the first place.)
  • 2.      Park in well lit, secure locations whenever possible

  • 3.      Use whatever technology the Company has provided for personal and load security

  • 4.      Shut the engine off, lock the doors and take the key5.      Observe the surroundings both coming from and to the truck
  • 6.      Don’t talk about the cargo with ANYONE outside your Company
  • 7.      Do a walk-around to see if the doors, seals, locks or security devices appear to have been tampered with. The sooner a theft is detected, the better the chance for recovery.
  • 8.     Report unusual or suspicious activity to law enforcement and the Company immediately.
  • 9.      Remember, there is usually a lot of personal property and personal information inside a truck, related to the driver and possibly their families that could also be compromised during a theft. Anything a driver may lose as a result of a theft may NOT be covered by their Company or even their own personal insurance. They do have a lot to lose too.

Yes, this seems like a very simple, very basic list that really only seems to require a little common sense. BUT, a very wise man once told me that Common Sense ain’t really all that Common. Again, this is about, “gettin’ back to basics.”Keep ‘em Safe- Keep ‘em Secure!

Wally White is Chairman of the Security Council’s Homeland Security Committee and Director of Safety and Regulatory Compliance at U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc. 

(click on pictures for a lager view)

 Transport Security, Inc. customer displays banners for drivers to increase security awareness

The most common MO (modus operandi) for large scale theft is the theft of an unattended trailer or container. It is an unfortunate reality that there are more trucks in the United States than there are parking lots, and certainly more trucks than there are secure parking lots. Given that fact, is it any wonder that drivers leave trucks at unsecured truck stops, retail parking areas, on the street or in vacant lots? The majority of container and trailer loads of cargo that are stolen are taken when the load is unattended. Some of these thefts are random, and are carried out by people who arrive on the scene with a bobtail (no trailer attached) tractor, hook on and drive away. Others are carefully planned, with research into the expected cargo, the route, the schedule and the driver’s habits. Some involve driver complicity.

Some thefts involve fraud. Some years ago a freight broker in Memphis posted a load of electronics on the internet looking for a trucker to take the load from Atlanta to Miami. They received a call from a man stating he was with XXX Transport, and that he had a driver nearby who could pick up the load the next morning. While XXX Transport was familiar to the broker, the man calling was not, so they obtained a phone number to call him back. When they called, a female voice answered “XXX Transport”. They asked for the man by name and were told he was on a call, but that if they could wait a moment, he would take their call. A minute went by with “muzak” playing, and he came on the line, confirmed his identity, and provided the broker with a number to which documents for the load should be faxed. They sent out the documents, the driver arrived the next morning, the shipper loaded his truck with electronics, and he left. Six hours later he called the broker and reported that he had experienced engine trouble on the highway to Miami so would be late. They advised the consignee and awaited his arrival the next day. The next day came and went and the load was never seen again. Investigators later found that the number they called for verification was a mailbox/business service office in Miami and that the woman and man had rented a phone from them for a morning. The fax number turned out to be at a motel on I75.

In 2003, a completely legitimate trucker was contacted by a major manufacturer and told to pick up a load of computers in St. Louis for delivery to Toronto. The trucker arrived the next day, picked up the load, and delivered it to a warehouse in Toronto where he was met by personnel in company uniforms. The manufacturer, which had done business with the buyer before, sent out an invoice, and received a call asking why a bill had been sent since no order had been given. Investigators discovered that documentation that exactly duplicated purchase orders from the supposed buyer had been made up in the business office of a Toronto hotel and sent to the manufacturer. The warehouse location in Toronto was found to be empty, and discarded company uniforms were found in a back room.

A large group, mostly Cuban, has operated a sophisticated theft ring out of Hialeah,Florida for a number of years now. We estimate that they have stolen over $300,000,000 in cargo in the United States since 2000. Arrests of members of this gang have been made in California, Ohio,Illinois,New Jersey, and a number of southeast states. One of their most common MO’s is used for warehouse burglaries:

First, they check out the location. The loading docks are watched (either from inside or nearby) so confirm the type of cargo going out. Patterns of loading and delivery are documented. Then, usually over a weekend, and often on holiday or special event weekends when police are busy, the alarm system at the warehouse is set off. The thieves sit back and wait for the first responders to come. After they leave, they set off the alarm again, and again they wait. Eventually, the first responders decide that the alarm is faulty and don’t come back, and the thieves enter the warehouse and spend all night emptying the cargo into trucks. In November of 2006 they stole 65,000 cell phones valued at $13,500,000 from a Chicago suburb using this technique. Particularly vulnerable are warehouses without back-up alarm systems. Investigators later found cumentation that six trucks had been stolen locally and used to haul the cargo. People using fake Cuban names, but Florida addresses, had registered in local hotels. A rental car, later noted as having been driving through the neighborhood, was found to have been rented to a Florida driver. This theft occurred over the Thanksgiving weekend. A similar theft, but during a summerfest event, had occurred not five miles away in 2005.

These are but a few of the methods being used. As industry tightens up its security, the thieves find new ways to break it. (Note: all of the above stories are based upon actual events, but the facts have been altered to protect the companies involved.) As modern industry has tightened its procedures, thieves have improved their own methods and technologies. Shippers, carriers and underwriters need to be aware, and need to keep up with methods to protect cargo in transit.

Alan F. Spear, Director
Cargo Security Loss Control
AIG Global Marine
May 1, 2007
©AIG Global Marine and Energy

A Truckload Carrier placed The ENFORCER® ABLOY® Padlock on their trailer of high value home improvment products.The ENFORCER withstood the physical attacks and prevented the thieves from entering the trailer. Ultimatley preventing the cargo theft.

View the ABLOY®  Padlocks- http://www.transportsecurity.com/products.php?id=abloy-locks