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By Marisa Yamane Honolulu police are looking for the person who stole a Matson shipping container from the Safeway store on Beretania Street. It happened on Sunday, March 16. Surveillance video caught the thief in action. At 4:06 a.m. the thief drove to the back of the Safeway Beretania parking lot, where the loading docks are located. After a couple of minutes, he backed up his tractor, hooked it up to the chassis, and then drove off with the container at 4:11 a.m. KHON2 asked Hawaii Transportation Association’s Managing Director Gareth Sakakida: “How common is something like this here in Hawaii?” Sakakida replied: “Not common in Hawaii at all. But on the mainland, stealing trailers, hijacking whole tractor trailer combination, it does happen and quite a lot.” FreightWatch International recently released its U.S. Cargo Theft Report for 2013. There were 951 reported incidents of cargo theft across the nation, and in most of those cases the thief made off with an entire container. Food and drinks accounted for 27 percent of all cargo thefts, topping the list of the most stolen cargo in the U.S. In fact, 2013 was the the fourth year in a row that food and drinks topped the list. FreightWatch says food loads usually have lower security than containers carrying electronics. Electronics came in second on the list at 14 percent, and home/garden and metal loads tied for third place at 10 percent each. The average value per stolen load was $171,000. California led the country last year with the most cargo thefts, followed by Texas and Florida. “I’m really surprised that it happened here finally,” Sakakida said. In fact, something similar happened last December. A shipping container was stolen not from a retailer, but from the pier. Boating supplier West Marine was the victim. According to the store’s manager, when their freight forwarder went to pick up their container from Horizon Lines on Sand Island, the container had already been picked up. It’s been three months since that happened, and still no sign of the stolen goods, valued at $100,000. But the chassis on which the container sat was recovered a couple weeks later. It had been abandoned on the freeway. So, how do you prevent cargo theft? “The only thing I can think of is theKing Pin lock, for the trailer. On the trailer, there’s a pin that comes down, where the tractor comes back in and they have a fifth wheel that goes around this pin and locks in, so if you have something on the King Pin, you can’t lock into that,” Sakakida said. On Friday, Safeway Beretania had stacked up some pallets in front of the Matson container — perhaps as a deterrent. The FBI says many companies don’t report cargo crimes to avoid bad publicity and higher insurance rates. But industry experts estimate that cargo thefts can add up to as much as $30 billion in losses each year, hurting not only the retailers and insurance companies, but also the consumers as well. Police didn’t tell us what was inside the stolen Matson container, and Safeway hasn’t returned our calls. But if you recognize the person in the surveillance video, or know where to find him, or know where the stolen container and goods ended up, call Crimestoppers at (808) 955-8300.
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By Christin Nance Lazerus cnance@post-trib.com March 24, 2014
Lake County Sheriff John Buncich on Monday announced the arrests of seven people and the recovery of more than $3 million in stolen vehicles and other train cargo, including electronics, prescription drugs and guns, following an eight-month investigation in Northwest Indiana and Chicago. With the assistance of CSX Railroad and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the investigation found 20 vehicles whose VINs had been changed and that those charged were targeting freight trains loaded with TVs, computers, Tylenol, Rolaids and other “high-ticket items” items destined for Walgreens and other retail stores, authorities said. They said NICB assisted the investigation by providing funds to buy the stolen items at storefronts in Chicago, Bedford Park and online. Eight Northwest Indiana residents are facing charges ranging from auto theft and firearm theft to possession of retagged vehicles and fleeing law enforcement. They are Cleveland Neal, 35, of Gary; Onrae Jordan, 29, of Gary; Carl Rogers, 34, of Gary; James Magee, 25, of Gary; Hammond resident Triston Smith, 34; Larry Dee Williams, 35, of Gary, and Merrillville resident Derrick Frazier, 45. Crown Point resident Amanda Grove, 32, is at large, but police are searching for her on charges of auto theft and resisting law enforcement. Police searched two Gary residences — at 1041 Cleveland St. and 700 W. 45th Ave. — and found two stolen cars, motorcycles, guns and ammunition, high-end handbags and a VIN cloning operation. Buncich said those charged knew which train cars to target. “It’s amazing how fast they can get into a freight car and steal the merchandise, mainly at night but sometimes even in the daytime,” he said. CSX technical special agent James Haskell said thieves also prey upon cargo when trains are stopped for signal delays, derailments,or construction. Buncich said an estimated $3.2 million in vehicles and $10 million in train cargo are stolen in the Chicago area, including Northwest Indiana, each year. NICB senior vice president Jim Schweitzer said cloning VINs means the vehicles can be sold to unsuspecting buyers. “This all affects ultimately the pocketbook of every consumer in the United States,” Schweitzer said. “When you go to buy insurance, your auto, homeowner’s, even commercial, the impact of theft ... is felt by individuals (because) rates are higher.” Buncich said the investigations remain active at this time, with an additional 11 people possibly facing charges. Original News Article By Jennifer Delgado
Tribune reporter 2:55 p.m. CDT, March 24, 2014 Eight people from Indiana have been arrested for allegedly stealing computer equipment, TVs and over-the-counter medication from freight trains in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana, officials said today. In addition to the rail thefts, the eight-month investigation also uncovered an auto theft ring that stole at least 18 vehicles and two motorcycles valued at $291,000, said Lake County, Ind., Sheriff John Buncich. In total, authorities have recovered $2.8 million in stolen cargo and automobiles, he said. "These guys really had an operation going," he said. Authorities have issued warrants for about a dozen more individuals from the Chicago area and Indiana in connection with the thefts, Buncich added. After a rash of thefts from freight cars, authorities eight months ago began investigating and found individuals stealing from rail cars stopped overnight or for a brief period of time. They targeted rail yards in the Miller and Gary, Ind., areas as well as the Bedford Park and Western Avenue rail yards in Illinois, Buncich said. The thieves targeted "high-ticket items" that they could move easily, such as televisions, computer equipment and more than $1 million in over-the-counter medication, like Tylenol and Rolaids, earmarked for Walgreens, said Buncich. Afterward, the thieves sold the goods online and at Chicago storefronts, Buncich said. Firearms were also recovered during the investigation, he added. The individuals arrested are Cleveland Neal, 35, Onrae Jordan, 29, Carl Rogers, 34, Larry Williams, 35, James Magee, 25, all of Gary; Triston Smith, 34, of Hammond; Derrick Frazier, 45, of Merrillville and Amanda Grove, 32, of Crown Point. The felony charges against them include possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a retagged vehicle and fleeing. The Lake County Sheriff's Office worked the case with the CSX railroad and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. jmdelgado@tribune.com | Twitter: @jendelgado1 Original News Article What is cargo theft? Cargo theft involves stealing trucks or trailers full of merchandise to sell for a quick profit. Trailers often carry loads of goods worth thousands of dollars. Cargo theft has become a significant problem in transportation hubs in southern Ontario, and in Montreal and Vancouver. A low-risk, high-reward crime, cargo theft appeals to criminals who steal merchandise, parcel it out and sell it, often before the crime is even reported.
IBC’s national cargo theft reporting program On March 18, 2014, IBC and the Canadian Trucking Alliance announced a national cargo theft reporting program open to all insurers operating in Canada including IBC members and non-member companies. The program improves information sharing among insurers, law enforcement, the trucking community and other stakeholders to help speed the recovery of stolen goods and bring criminals to justice.
Truckload Carriers Association: 2014 Annual Convention
Transport Security, Inc.- ENFORCER will be exhibiting Booth #614: Stop By and visit us to discuss your your fleet security needs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Press Release) - Mar. 20, 2014 - Waconia, MN - Transport Security, Inc.- ENFORCER® will be exhibiting their high security locking solutions for the trucking industry at this year’s Truckload Carriers Association 2014 Annual Meeting in Grapevine , TX March 23, 2014 through March 26, 2014 About Transport Security, Inc. Transport Security, Inc. - ENFORCER® is a leading cargo security company that has been providing high security solutions for the transportation, supply chain and retail sectors for over 35 years. The ENFORCER® Line of high security locks, C-TPAT security seal solutions, covert GPS tracking technologies set the standard for the industry. Security within the transportation/shipping industry has evolved substantially in recent years due to the increased risks in theft. In the United States, alone cargo theft accumulates for $15 billion in annual losses. Sign up for our free Cargo Security Newsletter to receive industry news and informative articles from security professionals: http://www.transportsecurity.com/contact.html Mission Statement Transport Security, Inc. products meet need for high quality security products that security professionals demand. We take great pride in offering these products to you with "off the shelf" speed, while time is taken to tailor each product to your specific needs. 
Security for the Owner Operator Independent Drivers’ Association has issued a warning of a potential cargo theft operation in and around the state of Indiana. The organization has received credible intelligence of a crew of cargo thieves from Florida who are actively seeking opportunities to steal freight in Indiana. “Although it is unknown just how many suspect vehicles may be involved, one vehicle is believed to be a red, four-dour Hyundai, unknown model, with Tennessee registration,” says Doug Morris, OOIDA’s security operations director. “It is also suspected that this vehicle may be traveling with a bobtail tractor, which would be used as a substitute when the original stolen tractor is discarded.” Shippers and carriers should use extra caution in and around Indiana. They should report any suspicious vehicles or activity to local law enforcement. “Make sure you never discuss what freight you have on there, the value or its destination,” Morris says. “Lock the power unit and remove the keys when unattended. Be aware of the value of the load and its attractiveness to thieves. Always try to park the trailer in a supervised or well-lit area. If you have a GPS tracking device, make sure it’s working properly.” OOIDA security believes the suspected thieves may set up surveillance around a shipping facility to identify a departing shipment of the product they want to steal. They would then follow the truck and wait until it’s unattended to attempt to steal it. - See more at: http://gobytrucknews.com/credible-cargo-threat-in-ind/123#sthash.wwGpB2zG.dpuf
By Mishele Wright mdwright@chronicle-tribune.com
A Florida man is facing charges in connection to the theft of a semi truck and trailer at a Marion truck stop earlier this month. According to information provided to Marion Police from Lex18 in Kentucky, 50-year-old Eduardo Hernandez of Hialeah, Fla. was arrested by Kentucky State Police on two counts of receiving stolen property over $10,000 and one count of running a scale installation. He is being held in a jail in Kentucky. Original News Release A truck driver pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday for his role in a cargo theft ring that included a theft in West Plains, Mo.
Michael Lee Sherley, of Memphis, pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield, Mo. to theft of an interstate shipment. He was employed by Nu World Trucking, a Memphis trucking company, from July 2012 until his arrest on May 12, 2013. Sherley was part of a cargo theft ring that used the resources of Nu World Trucking to steal cargo in various states. They did so by “bob-tailing” through truck stops and service stations located on or near interstate highways, looking for semi-trailers that had been left parked and unattended, and were not coupled to road tractors, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri. When they located a semi-trailer that appeared to be unattended, they would steal it and the goods it contained by coupling their tractor to it and driving off. After having stolen a semi-trailer and its contents, they usually transported the stolen goods to the Chicago and Detroit areas to be “fenced” or sold. The specific charge to which Sherley pleaded guilty to involves a theft that occurred on May 11, 2013, at the Snappy Mart Truck Stop in West Plains. Sherley and another person stole a 2000 Wabash trailer, valued at $7,500, which contained a load of Green Giant canned corn, valued at $73,008. The trailer, owned by Bryant Freight, LLC, was in transit from Minnesota to a food bank in Arkansas. Sherley admitted that they traveled through Missouri and Indiana with the stolen cargo before being apprehended in Michigan. Under federal statutes, Sherley is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. Sentencing is set for later. Thefts of food/drinks were the most frequently targeted cargo type by thieves last year, according to the logistics security services provider FreightWatch International, with the number of such incidents increasing more than 34% from the year before. Also, truckstops were the most frequently targeted unsecured parking areas by cargo thieves in the country last year. Tags: Cargo Theft , Trailer Theft, Cargo Fraud By Daily Herald report
Police are investigating the theft of an estimated $300,000 of copper alloy and brass from a Des Plaines business. According to Des Plaines police, two truck drivers using fake driver’s licenses picked up two separate shipments of scrap metal/alloy in semitrailers from a business on the 300 block of North Third Avenue. The shipments, picked up Nov. 20 and 21, were supposed to be transported to Buffalo, N.Y., but never arrived, police said. Stolen were an unknown make/model semitrailer containing approximately 43,000 pounds of copper alloy valued at $150,000 and an unknown make/model semitrailer containing approximately 20,000 pounds of cooper and approximately 22,000 pounds of brass, valued at $150,000. Original Article Tags: Cargo theft, metal theft, cargo security, trailer theft Three Kansas City, Mo., area men have been convicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to steal nearly $1 million worth of trucks and trailers and their cargo, for the use of their own trucking operations and for others.
Kenneth Ray Borders of Kansas City, Mo., Jon Dirk Dickerson of Raytown, Mo. and his son, Kyle Wayne Dickerson of Holden, Mo., were found guilty of the charges contained in a Dec. 14, 2012, federal indictment. The jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated over a three-day period before returning the verdicts, ending a trial that began Feb. 18. The three were taken into federal custody immediately after the jury returned the verdicts. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that all three of the co-defendants participated in a conspiracy that involved the theft of commercial trucks and trailers and their cargo in Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Missouri. They worked together to steal trucks, trailers, and cargo and then dispose of them. Sometimes they used the trucks and trailers themselves to make money by hauling loads for customers and sometimes they sold the stolen trucks and trailers. The conspiracy involved the thefts of five Freightliner trucks and 17 trailers between 2005 and 2011, including refrigerated trailers containing such cargo as tens of thousands of pounds of meat, chicken and sausage, along with dry van trailers containing beer and Nike shoes. Prosecutors say stolen cargo was sold cheaply to anyone who would buy it, including to Myron Piggie of Kansas City, Mo., who earlier pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property. Piggie admitted that he accepted stolen beer and agreed to sell the beer at his convenience store and split the profits with conspirators. However, he learned that the police were aware he had the stolen beer, so instead he gave it all away, selling little or none of it. Borders was involved in stealing the trucks, trailers, and cargo. He sold the cargo to others to resell, sometimes fronting the money by allowing his “customer” to pay him after they sold the product. Borders used some of the stolen trucks and trailers himself to make money by delivering cargo. Jon Dickerson often had the first right to purchase stolen trucks and trailers. In fact, Borders actually had a “shopping list” from Dickerson listing the trucks and trailers that he wanted, so Borders could keep an eye out for them and steal them if the opportunity presented itself. Jon Dickerson and his son, Kyle Dickerson, also were involved in stealing trucks and trailers. They used them in their own trucking business, sometimes just for replacement parts with the remains sold for scrap. Kyle Dickerson had the tools, ability, and willingness to disguise the stolen nature of the trucks and trailers by altering their Vehicle Identification Numbers so that they could be used in their trucking business without alerting authorities when they were stopped or inspected. The Dickersons reduced their costs of doing business by stealing trucks and trailers themselves, or by buying stolen trucks and trailers from Borders, at a fraction of their fair market value. Since they had little financial investment in the stolen trucks and trailers, and knew that they had a readily available and cheap supply of stolen trucks and trailers, they had little incentive to maintain and repair their fleet. As a result, their fleet wore out and had safety issues, such as problems with brakes and tires. When their fleet wore out, they simply replaced them with more stolen trucks and trailers. The Dickersons did not bother to maintain and repair their trucks and trailers but continued to operate them in interstate commerce. As a result, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other law enforcement repeatedly cited their company and drivers for failing inspections and violating regulations. The company's compliance reviews led to unsatisfactory safety ratings, which led to a total of $450,000 in fines and numerous out of service orders. However, the Dickersons just ignored the orders and the fines and continued operating as a “chameleon carrier,” getting new hauling authority under a new name. Co-defendants Christopher Dwight Turner, 45, and Michael O’Neal Foster, 55, both of Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods. Turner admitted that he received approximately $386,932 worth of stolen meat. Foster admitted that he received a stolen Freightliner Classic XL truck, which he and others drove out of Missouri to both California and Indiana. In two separate, but related, cases, Jaccard Fears, of Raymore, Mo. and Roy Lynn Parvin, of Kansas City, Mo., have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. Fears was employed by the trucking businesses operated by the co-conspirators. He was paid by Borders and Foster to remove emblems, decals, and other ownership information from stolen trucks and replace them with emblems depicting they were owned by Kembeh Trucking (Foster's company) and others. Parvin admitted that he purchased multiple loads of stolen property from Borders and Turner, including stolen meat, dog food, and appliances totaling more than $6,000. Parvin was also in possession of beef stolen in Nebraska and sausage stolen in Kansas. In addition to the conspiracy, Borders was found guilty of four counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods, one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles. Jon Dickerson was also found guilty of three counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles. Kyle Dickerson was also found guilty of one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of stolen vehicles, two counts of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen goods and one count of aiding and abetting the possession of stolen vehicles. Under federal statutes, Borders is subject to a sentence of up to 65 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1.75 million. Jon and Kyle Dickerson are each subject to a sentence of up to 45 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1.25 million. The United States Probation Office will schedule sentencing hearings after the completion of pre-sentence investigations. The court will determine forfeiture amounts at a later date. Original News Article Tags: Cargo theft, Trailer Theft, FMCSA, Investigations, Freight Theft |
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