SCREEN United Kingdom Cargo Theft Report Q3 2017 · Q3 2017 Q3 2017 - Based on historical data and qualitative analysis High Risk Areas for Cargo Theft in the United Kingdom Top Commodities

SCREEN United Kingdom Cargo Theft Report Q3 2017

Supply Chain Risk Exposure Evaluation Network


Supplier Compliance Manager

2BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions SCREEN United Kingdom Cargo Theft Report

table of contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Northamptonshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Areas of Concern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Methods and Locations of Thefts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Targeted Commodities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Kent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Areas of Concern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7



Leicestershire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Areas of Concern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8



Nottinghamshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Areas of Concern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9



Bedfordshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Areas of Concern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Methods and Locations of Thefts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Targeted Commodities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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3 BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions SCREEN United Kingdom Cargo Theft Report

Cargo trucks transporting goods with soft-sided trailers

face the highest risk of cargo theft in the United

Kingdom, with thefts targeting these vehicles

representing the greatest of number of incidents in the

United Kingdom in Q3. This is primarily due to the

widespread use of these less-secure

trailers throughout the United

Kingdom. Cargo thieves most often

target trucks with soft-sided trailers

due to their vulnerability to simple

slash-and-grab attacks, presenting

greater opportunities for thieves than

other shipping modalities, such as

trucks carrying hard-sided trailers

or sea containers. Additionally, BSI

continued to record several instances

of fuel thefts this quarter, in which

thieves stole fuel from the fuel tanks of

parked cargo trucks. These incidents accounted for eight

percent of the total theft incidents recorded in the United

Kingdom during the third quarter. Thieves periodically

stole cargo utilizing more sophisticated schemes,

including fictitious pick-ups, thefts from moving trucks,

and thefts from warehouses.

Nearly 63 percent of cargo thefts recorded by BSI in

the third quarter of 2017 involved the slash-and-grab

tactic, which represents a 13 percent decrease from the

percentage of slash-and-grabs recorded in the previous

quarter. This tactic involves thieves cutting into the

tarpaulins of parked cargo trucks loaded with soft-sided

trailers to steal goods. This tactic is the most prevalent

method used for cargo theft in the

United Kingdom since it requires

limited skill and time, and allows

thieves to target multiple trucks in a

single theft attempt and select which

goods are of most value.

In Q3, most cargo theft incidents

occurred off-road at laybys, unsecure

locations located off highways and

other roadways that provide cargo

trucks a location for brief stops. BSI

analysis indicates that the insufficient

quantity of secure parking in the United Kingdom is a

major contributor to cargo truck drivers utilizing this

form of off-road parking, which in turn increases the vul-

nerability of their trucks to theft. Other major locations

targeted for cargo theft include industrial parks and rest

stops. Cargo thieves in the United Kingdom often operate

in repetitive and identifiable patterns and typically strike

the same rest stops or locations multiple times.

IntroductIon

Cargo thieves in the United

Kingdom often operate in

repetitive and identifiable

patterns and typically strike

the same rest stops or

locations multiple times.

This report was published in coordination with BSI and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service

(NaVCIS). NaVCIS is a United Kingdom police unit that utilizes vehicle crime intelligence from regional

U.K. police forces and European law enforcement agencies to track criminal trends and produce

effective industry solutions. BSI recorded a total of 296 cargo theft incidents in the United Kingdom

during the third quarter of 2017. Northamptonshire, Kent, and Leicestershire saw the highest rates of

cargo theft during this period, followed by Nottinghamshire and Bedfordshire.




Supplier Compliance Manager

BSI’s historical incident data indicates that the M1

motorway is the primary highway along which cargo

thefts occur. Approximately 18 percent of all highway

theft incidents recorded during the third quarter

occurred on this major route, a sharp decrease from 33

percent of all highway thefts in the previous quarter.

The A1 and A14 roadways saw the second and third

highest number of thefts this quarter respectively.

Other roads and motorways of concern during Q3

include the M25, A2, and M62.

As in previous quarters, most cargo theft incidents

occurred during the middle of the week, with nearly

41 percent of incidents taking place on Wednesdays

and Thursdays. Comparatively, cargo thefts were least

frequent during the weekends, with Saturdays and

Sundays experiencing the fewest thefts. This trend is

primarily driven by weekend driving restrictions in the

United Kingdom, which limits travel hours for weekend

commercial driving.

Companies lost over an estimated £9.6 million ($12.6

million) due to cargo theft during Q3, a nearly 15 percent

decrease from the previous quarter’s total loss rate. This

equates to an average £32,497 ($42,925) lost per cargo

theft incident. The highest-value lost during a single

cargo theft this quarter occurred in Bedfordshire after

thieves cut into the tarpaulin of a cargo truck parked

at a layby and stole £310,000 ($409,479) worth of

high-fashion apparel.

bsI Quarterly shifting cargo theft trends in the uK

BSI has observed some notable shifts in cargo theft trends in the United Kingdom during the course of 2017. Some

of the most prominent changes include shifts in the highways targeted by thieves, and the relative prevalence of

the slash-and-grab tactic.

• BSI notes that during the third quarter 18 percent of all highway theft incidents occurred along the M1 motorway,

which is the most targeted highway route for cargo theft in the United Kingdom. This represents a sharp de-

crease from previous quarters; in Q1, thefts on the M1 accounted for 36 percent of incidents, and in Q2, the route

represented 33 percent of highway thefts. BSI assesses that fewer incidents have occurred along this route due

to the expansion of security measures along the M1, such as the installation of CCTV cameras at rest stops on the

highway to thwart thefts.

- Although these increased security measures have deterred thieves from targeting trucks at rest stops to some

extent, cargo thieves have responded to this trend by shifting operations to target cargo trucks parked at

unsecure locations in some counties.

• BSI assesses that the relative prevalence of the slash-and-grab tactic declined compared to other theft types

during the third quarter. During Q1 and Q2, slash-and-grabs accounted for 76 and 78 percent of thefts, respec-

tively. However, during Q3, the proportion of slash-and-grab thefts declined by 13 percent, accounting for only

63 percent of cargo theft incidents. Despite this, slash-and-grabs continue to be the primary tactic thieves use

to steal cargo in the United Kingdom, and ground freight transporters should utilize best security practices to

prevent these thefts.

IRELAND

M11

M25

M40

M1

M6

A6

M5

M4

M1

A1(M)

M4

A1(M)

SwanseaCardiff

Bristol

Exeter

Swindon

Reading

Southampton

BournemouthPortsmouth

London

Ipswich

NorwichDerby

Nottingham

HullLeeds

Sheffield

Liverpool

Blackpool

Edinburgh

Dundee

Aberdeen

Dublin

Londonderry/Derry

MiddlesbroughBelfast

Ballymena

Glasgow

M74

United Kingdom Cargo Theft AnalysisQ3 2017

Q3 2017 - Based on historical data and qualitative analysis

High Risk Areas for Cargo Theft in the United Kingdom

Top Commodities Stolen

Unknown 42.91%

Apparel 6.08%

Consumer Goods 16.22%

Food and Beverage 8.11%

Automotive 4.05%

4.39%Alcohol and Tobacco

Top Highways for Theft

M1 18.79%M1

A14 10.07%A14

A1 10.74%A1

A2 7.38%A2

M25 8.72%M25

Cargo Theft by Day

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Monday

Sunday

11.2%

Saturday

16.8%

22.7%

18.2%

14.7%

10.8%

5.6%

Distribution of Cargo Theft

Cargo Theft by Type

Northamptonshire17.6%

Kent11.5%

Leicestershire11.1%

Nottinghamshire10.8%

Bedfordshire5.4%

Other43.6%

Slash-and-Grab67.4%

Theft FromTruck

18.6%

Theft of Trailer5.0%

Other9.0%

Actual Cargo TheftsTotal: 221

Slash-and-Grab71.7%

Theft FromTruck

22.6%

Other5.7%

Attempted Cargo TheftsTotal 53


united Kingdom cargo theft analysis Q3 2017


northamptonshire

Northamptonshire has remained the top county for

cargo theft in the United Kingdom throughout 2017,

and incidents in this county accounted for 17.6 percent

of incidents during the third quarter. Companies lost

£1.5 million ($1.9 million) due to theft in Northamptonshire,

representing 15 percent of the total value of goods stolen

in the United Kingdom during this period.

areas of concernThe cities of Kettering, Cold Ashby, and

Northampton experienced the most theft

incidents in Northamptonshire during

Q3. Notably, the city of Watford, which

has previously experienced some of the

highest rates of theft in this county, only

accounted for four percent of incidents.

Most highway thefts in Northamptonshire

occurred at off-road laybys near the A14

highway, which represented 10 percent

of all highway thefts in this county. Cargo

thieves also targeted trucks insecurely

parked near or on the A43, A45, A5, and M1.

Northamptonshire continues to be the

top county for theft for several reasons.

Northamptonshire has a notably high

crime rate relative to the rest of the

United Kingdom, making trucks traveling

through the county vulnerable to criminal

activity. Additionally, the large volume of

cargo transiting Northamptonshire due

to the presence of numerous major roads

in the county, including the M1 motorway,

provides organized criminal groups

with ample opportunity to carry out

cargo thefts.

Northamptonshire

Kent

Leicestershire

10%15%

25%19% 19%

8%4%

MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN

Cargo Theft by Day

25%

3%

22%

6% 10% 6%

28%


Cargo Theft by Day

10%15%

18%

27%

18%

6% 6%


Cargo Theft by Day

Nottinghamshire

Bedfordshire

16%12%

19%22%

16%12%

3%


Cargo Theft by Day

19% 19% 19% 19% 19%

5%

0%


Cargo Theft by Day

Methods and locations of theftsThieves primarily stole cargo using the

slash-and-grab method, in which thieves

cut the tarpaulins of soft-sided trailers

to steal goods. This modus operandi

represented 77 percent of all recorded

incidents in Northamptonshire. Addition-

ally, BSI recorded incidents in which

thieves stole cargo by breaking the rear

locks of hard-sided trailers. However,

in numerous incidents, thieves were

deterred from stealing goods due to the

durability of secure locks. As in previous

quarters, Northamptonshire experienced

more thefts from trucks involving

lock-cutting than any other county in the

United Kingdom in Q3.

Unlike in previous quarters where most

cargo thefts in Northamptonshire

occurred at service stations, particularly

along the M1 motorway, most cargo

thefts during the third quarter occurred

at unsecure locations, such as laybys. BSI

analysis indicates that recent UK police

efforts to maximize security at parking

facilities throughout the county have

likely influenced cargo thieves in the

area to shift theft operations to target

cargo vehicles parked at unsecure but

easy-to-access areas, such as laybys off

highways. For instance, the East Midlands

Freight Crime Taskforce installed CCTV

cameras at major M1 rest stops through-

out Northamptonshire, which had been

identified as a high-risk area for thefts in

previous quarters. NaVCIS reports that

no cargo theft incidents occurred at that

rest area for several weeks following the

camera installations. Additionally, BSI only

recorded one cargo theft incident at this

rest stop during the entirety of Q3.

targeted commodities

Thieves in Northamptonshire most

frequently stole consumer goods, with

tools and household items accounting for

most stolen products within this category.

Thieves in the county also commonly

stole food and beverage items. The food

and beverage industry in Northampton-

shire has recently experienced significant

growth, and an overall increase of these

products being transported throughout

the county likely explains the high rate

of theft.

NorthamptonshireKent

Leicestershire Nottinghamshire

Bedfordshire


Unknown 44%

Apparel

4%Alcohol and Tobacco

4%

Consumer Goods 25%

Automotive 6%


Unknown 44.12%

Apparel 5.88%

Industrial Materials 5.88%


Unknown 48.48%

Apparel 9.09%



6.06%


Unknown 62.50%



Automotive 3.13%


Unknown 44%

6%

Consumer Goods 31%

Electronics 6%

Automotive 6%

Automotive 2.94%

Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and Tobacco

Food and Beverage 13%


Electronics 6.06%


Apparel 6%

M1

A43

A14

M1

Northampton

Kettering

Wellingborough

LEICESTERSHIRE


M20

M2

A2

A20

A249

AshfordDover

Gravesend

ESSEXGREATERLONDON

SUSSEX

Kent

Kent experienced the second most cargo thefts

in the United Kingdom during the third quarter,

representing 12 percent of all incidents during this

period. Companies lost an estimated £573,000

($757,000) of cargo from these thefts, representing

six percent of the value of all goods stolen in the

United Kingdom.

areas of concernCargo thefts occurred throughout the

county of Kent, with most thefts primarily

concentrated in the northern region

of the county, in addition to the south-

eastern area near the port of Dover and

Folkestone Harbour. The cities of Ashford,

Gravesend, and Cobham saw the highest

number of thefts, followed by Aylesford

and Chatham. Cargo thieves also targeted

cargo trucks near the ports of Dover and

Folkestone, making these areas the third

most prominent location for cargo theft

in Kent. Most thefts occurred near the A2

highway, comprising 55 percent of high-

way thefts in the county. This is followed

by the M20 motorway, which represented

the most targeted highway for cargo theft

in Q2, and the A20 roadway.

Cargo theft continues to be prominent in

Kent primarily due to the large presence

of organized criminal groups operating

in the county. This in addition to the fact

that Kent observes a significant flow

of cargo due to the presence of two

major ports illustrates why Kent remains

a major hotspot for cargo theft. BSI

recorded two major police operations

in Kent this quarter that successfully

arrested members of organized crime

groups participating in major supply

chain schemes, including cargo theft and

arms smuggling into cargo vehicles at the

port of Dover.

Northamptonshire

Kent

Leicestershire

10%15%

25%19% 19%

8%4%


Cargo Theft by Day

25%

3%

22%

6% 10% 6%

28%


Cargo Theft by Day

10%15%

18%

27%

18%

6% 6%


Cargo Theft by Day

Nottinghamshire

Bedfordshire

16%12%

19%22%

16%12%

3%


Cargo Theft by Day

19% 19% 19% 19% 19%

5%

0%


Cargo Theft by Day

Methods and locations of theftsThieves most frequently stole goods in

Kent using the slash-and-grab tactic,

which represented nearly 62 percent

of all theft incidents during the third

quarter. The top theft locations in Kent

this quarter were industrial parking

facilities and off-road laybys, with an

equal number of incidents occurring at

both locations. Thieves often targeted

the same industrial parks throughout

the quarter, with the greatest number of

these incidents occurring in Gravesend.

This suggests potential security gaps at

these facilities, leaving cargo more at risk

for theft due to thieves exploiting these

vulnerabilities for repeated theft opera-

tions. The second most common theft

type in Kent involved thieves stealing

fuel from parked cargo trucks. Kent has

experienced the highest amount of fuel

thefts in the United Kingdom for two

consecutive quarters.

targeted commoditiesConsumer goods were the most

frequently targeted commodity in Kent

in the third quarter of 2017. There is little

evidence indicating that thieves specifi-

cally targeted this commodity. Rather,

criminals are more likely conducting

these thefts at random due to the large

volume and high variation of cargo

moving through Kent, due to the county’s

major shipping facilities and proximity to

the Greater London area. One of the most

valuable thefts that BSI recorded in Kent

this quarter involved a supply chain

corruption case in which an employee

stole meat products worth £98,410

($130,000) from a company warehouse.

However, the significance of this theft

was not representative of general trends

in the county, as food and beverage

products only accounted for three

percent of all thefts.



Bedfordshire


Unknown 44%

Apparel


4%

Consumer Goods 25%

Automotive 6%


Unknown 44.12%

Apparel 5.88%



Unknown 48.48%

Apparel 9.09%



6.06%


Unknown 62.50%



Automotive 3.13%


Unknown 44%

6%

Consumer Goods 31%

Electronics 6%

Automotive 6%

Automotive 2.94%

Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and Tobacco



Electronics 6.06%


Apparel 6%


M20

M2

A2

A20

A249

AshfordDover

Gravesend

ESSEXGREATERLONDON

SUSSEX

leicestershire

Leicestershire ranked third for the highest number

of cargo theft incidents in the United Kingdom

during the third quarter, representing 11.2 percent of

all thefts. Thieves stole cargo worth approximately

£1.3 million ($1.7 million), which accounted for 13

percent of the total value lost during this quarter.

areas of concernCargo theft incidents in Leicestershire

continued to occur at similar locations

as previous quarters, with most thefts

occurring in Coalville, Leicester, and

Castle Donnington. These cities are major

hotspots for cargo theft primarily due

to their proximity to the M1 motorway.

Nearly 58 percent of highway cargo theft

incidents occurred near the M1 motorway,

while other thefts occurred along the

A511, A42, A5, and A536 roadways.

Leicestershire continues to be a major

county targeted for cargo theft due to its

location along the M1 motorway. The M1

runs north-south through the entire coun-

ty, making Leicestershire a major hub for

freight transportation. The county hosts

several major retail and cargo distribution

companies, and these sectors make up

a significant portion of Leicestershire’s

economy. This industrial environment

contributes to the significant amount of

cargo that flows through the county, thus

increasing opportunities for theft.

Northamptonshire

Kent

Leicestershire

10%15%

25%19% 19%

8%4%


Cargo Theft by Day

25%

3%

22%

6% 10% 6%

28%


Cargo Theft by Day

10%15%

18%

27%

18%

6% 6%


Cargo Theft by Day

Nottinghamshire

Bedfordshire

16%12%

19%22%

16%12%

3%


Cargo Theft by Day

19% 19% 19% 19% 19%

5%

0%


Cargo Theft by Day

Methods and locations of theftsThieves primarily utilized the slash-and-

grab method to steal cargo from trucks

in Leicestershire. Nearly 73 percent of

recorded thefts involved this method,

followed by thefts from trucks, in which

thieves broke the locks of trailers and

proceeded to unload the vehicle’s cargo.

BSI recorded one incident in which

thieves carried out a moving-truck theft,

a more sophisticated form of cargo theft.

The moving-truck theft strategy involves

gangs using personal vehicles to follow

a cargo truck from behind and along

the sides, which allows gangs to keep

the truck from changing lanes and allow

criminals to approach the back of the

truck, break the trailer’s lock, and steal

cargo while the truck is still in motion.

Cargo thieves primarily targeted trucks

parked at industrial parks, as well as

unsecure off-road laybys. Leicestershire

hosts several cargo distribution centers,

which likely explains why these facilities

accounted for most thefts. This is

followed by thefts at rest areas, primarily

the Leicester Forest East service station.

In one notable incident, thieves targeted

a cargo truck exiting a logistics yard

and followed it to conduct a moving-

truck theft.

targeted commodities

Unlike most counties in the United

Kingdom where consumer goods are

the top commodities stolen, food and

beverage products represented the most

frequently targeted commodity during

the third quarter in Leicestershire. Apparel

and footwear products and consumer

goods were the second and third most

stolen commodities in the county. In

previous quarters, BSI recorded a

substantial number of thefts of

automotive products and electronics

in Leicestershire, primarily due to the

presence of several major automotive

manufacturing and engineering

companies based in this county.

The absence of these products as a major

targeted good for theft underscores

the likely high level of security these

companies have implemented to protect

products.



Bedfordshire


Unknown 44%

Apparel


4%

Consumer Goods 25%

Automotive 6%


Unknown 44.12%

Apparel 5.88%



Unknown 48.48%

Apparel 9.09%



6.06%


Unknown 62.50%



Automotive 3.13%


Unknown 44%

6%

Consumer Goods 31%

Electronics 6%

Automotive 6%

Automotive 2.94%

Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and Tobacco



Electronics 6.06%


Apparel 6%

A42

M1

M1

A606

A47

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Leicester

Loughborough

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Coalville


M1 A46

A46

A1

A1

A614

Nottingham

Mans�eld

Worksop

SOUTHYORKSHIRE

Blythnottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire accounted for 10.8 percent of all

thefts recorded in the United Kingdom during Q3.

Companies lost an estimated £620,600 ($820,000)

of goods due to theft during this quarter, which

represents approximately 6.5 percent of the value

of all goods stolen in the United Kingdom in the

third quarter.

areas of concernThe greatest number of theft incidents

occurred in the city of Worksop, followed

by Newark-on-Trent and Trowell. BSI has

continuously recorded high rates of cargo

theft in these cities throughout 2017.

During Q2, Markham Moor experienced

one of the highest rates of cargo theft

in Nottinghamshire; however, the village

saw among the fewest thefts in the

county in Q3. Cargo trucks were most

vulnerable to cargo theft while travelling

along the A1 roadway, which accounted

for 67 percent of all highway incidents in

Nottinghamshire.

Cargo theft continues to occur regularly

in Nottinghamshire due to the large vol-

ume of goods being transported through

the county due to the presence of major

UK highways, such as the A1 roadway and

M1 motorway. Additionally, the lack of

secure parking, particularly along the A1

roadway, has been a persistent issue for

ground freight transporters. Most cargo

theft incidents that occurred at laybys

during the third quarter were located off

the A1 or A46 roadways.

Northamptonshire

Kent

Leicestershire

10%15%

25%19% 19%

8%4%


Cargo Theft by Day

25%

3%

22%

6% 10% 6%

28%


Cargo Theft by Day

10%15%

18%

27%

18%

6% 6%


Cargo Theft by Day

Nottinghamshire

Bedfordshire

16%12%

19%22%

16%12%

3%


Cargo Theft by Day

19% 19% 19% 19% 19%

5%

0%


Cargo Theft by Day

Methods and locations of theftsThieves primarily stole cargo from trucks

using the slash-and-grab tactic, which

accounted for 81 percent of thefts.

Although cargo thieves utilized this

tactic throughout Nottinghamshire, BSI

assess that it is particularly effective

when thieves target highway rest areas

as it allows them to steal cargo from

several trucks in one incident. Trucks are

frequently parked close together at these

facilities for overnight rest, which allows

thieves to quickly target multiple vehicles

with ease when using this tactic to steal

cargo. Trucks loaded with soft-sided

trailers are primarily targeted for this

theft method, since the tarpaulins can be

easily cut, often without notice.

Rest areas in Nottinghamshire represent

the highest-risk areas in the county for

cargo theft. Thieves primarily targeted

cargo trucks parked at the Blyth and

Trowell service stations along the A1

roadway to steal cargo. BSI analysis

indicates that thieves in Nottinghamshire

and throughout the United Kingdom

often operate in repetitive patterns and

typically strike the same rest stops and

locations multiple times a week.

targeted commoditiesConsumer goods, followed by food

and beverage products, were the most

stolen commodities in Nottinghamshire.

Although consumer goods are a key

part of Nottinghamshire’s local industry,

there is little evidence that thieves have

specifically targeted these commodities.

Criminals operating in this county are

most likely conducting opportunistic

thefts due to the large volume and high

variation of cargo transiting the county.



Bedfordshire


Unknown 44%

Apparel


4%

Consumer Goods 25%

Automotive 6%


Unknown 44.12%

Apparel 5.88%



Unknown 48.48%

Apparel 9.09%



6.06%


Unknown 62.50%



Automotive 3.13%


Unknown 44%

6%

Consumer Goods 31%

Electronics 6%

Automotive 6%

Automotive 2.94%

Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and Tobacco



Electronics 6.06%


Apparel 6%


M1 A46

A46

A1

A1

A614

Nottingham

Mans�eld

Worksop

SOUTHYORKSHIRE

Blyth

Dunstable Luton

Bedford

M1A6

A5

A421A1

A421

A6

Motorway Service Area

bedfordshire

Bedfordshire recorded the fifth-highest number of

cargo theft incidents in the United Kingdom,

accounting for 5.4 percent of all incidents in the country

during the third quarter. Companies lost an estimated

£978,600 ($1.3 million) due to cargo theft in Bedfordshire.

This figure represents 10.2 percent of the total value of

goods stolen in the United Kingdom during Q3.

areas of concernThe cities of Dunstable and Luton expe-

rienced the most cargo theft incidents

during this period. This is primarily due to

their presence along the M1 motorway.

BSI incident data indicate that the M1

motorway was a major target for cargo

theft, as it represented 77 percent of all

recorded highway incidents. Thieves also

targeted trucks along the A421 roadway.

Bedfordshire is located less than hour

away from London, making the county

a major transit hub for cargo shipments.

Additionally, the logistics and transporta-

tion industry represents one of the

county’s key economic sectors, which

contributes to the significant amount

of cargo transiting the county. Cargo

thieves likely exploit the large volume

of goods being transported through

Bedfordshire to target cargo trucks

operating in the region.

Northamptonshire

Kent

Leicestershire

10%15%

25%19% 19%

8%4%


Cargo Theft by Day

25%

3%

22%

6% 10% 6%

28%


Cargo Theft by Day

10%15%

18%

27%

18%

6% 6%


Cargo Theft by Day

Nottinghamshire

Bedfordshire

16%12%

19%22%

16%12%

3%


Cargo Theft by Day

19% 19% 19% 19% 19%

5%

0%


Cargo Theft by Day

Methods and locations of theftsCargo thieves used a variety of tactics to

steal cargo in Bedfordshire; however, the

slash-and-grab tactic continued to be the

primary method of theft during the third

quarter. The second most common cargo

theft tactic involved thieves breaking

the locks of hard-sided truck trailers and

shipping containers.

Rest areas accounted for 56 percent of

all cargo theft incidents in Bedfordshire,

with all of these incidents recorded in Q3

occurring at the Toddington service station

in Dunstable, highlighting this rest area

as an area of concern for cargo theft. BSI

recommends that shipping and logistic

companies implement best-practice cargo

security measures to mitigate the risk

of cargo theft when using this rest area.

Thieves also targeted industrial parks, and

to a lesser extent off-road laybys, to steal

from parked cargo trucks.

targeted commoditiesA wide variety of goods were stolen in

Bedfordshire during the third quarter,

with consumer goods representing the

most targeted commodity in the county.

This is followed by thefts of alcohol

and tobacco products, apparel and

footwear, electronics, and automotive

products. Although these goods are

generally easier for thieves to resell, there

is little evidence indicating that thieves

specifically targeted these commodities.

Rather, thieves are more likely conducting

opportunistic thefts when stealing cargo

shipments in Bedfordshire.



Bedfordshire


Unknown 44%

Apparel


4%

Consumer Goods 25%

Automotive 6%


Unknown 44.12%

Apparel 5.88%



Unknown 48.48%

Apparel 9.09%



6.06%


Unknown 62.50%



Automotive 3.13%


Unknown 44%

6%

Consumer Goods 31%

Electronics 6%

Automotive 6%

Automotive 2.94%

Alcohol and Tobacco

Alcohol and Tobacco



Electronics 6.06%


Apparel 6%

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Documents

SCREEN United Kingdom Cargo Theft Report Q3 2017 · Q3 2017 Q3 2017 - Based on historical data and qualitative analysis High Risk Areas for Cargo Theft in the United Kingdom Top Commodities