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Stolen IT loads cost £50m pa
Page 9
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• Computer firms are reporting a dramatic increase in thefts, leading to fears that the haulage industry is set for more hijackings.
An estimated £50m is being stolen from the industry each year through hijacked lorries and warehouse raids. The situation is so bad that insurance companies are demanding
ever-larger premiums, or simply refusing to cover companies, says Paul Kunert of CM's sister publication Microscope.
Kunert says computer companies have long campaigned for increased protection against the thieves, but it is only now that police are taking it seriously. He says: "Scotland Yard has said that it will liaise with IT firms to try to slash the rising crime rate. The crime gangs are taking a terrible toll on business."
Amtrak, the parcel carrier company, was hit twice in a week last year by thieves targeting its computer delivery schedules. On both occasions, over £250,000-worth of computer equipment was stolen ( CM 27 June-3 July 2002: CM410 July 20021.
• Police are hunting an armed gang who hijacked a truck and stole its load of computer chips at Heathrow airport.
The incident happened at around 10.15am last Sunday 12 March) at the United Airlines warehouse. The gang threatened the driver of the blue Inca, which had just loaded from a Miami flight, with hammers and crowbars before they drove off towards Hatton Gross. The vehicle was later recovered with its load in Feitham, west London.
Last month, thieves stole £6.4m-worth of Pentium 4 processors from a van near the airport. And last October 12.Bm of memory chips were taken from Heathrow's cargo centre.