There's no happy end to this crime story
Page 18
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Despite statistics suggesting truck crime is on the wane, the reality is that trucks and their toads are just as much at risk, if not more so, of being stolen.
joanna.bourkeiarbi.co.uk ANY POLITICIAN OR civil servant separate from the road transport sector is likely to see Truck Pors 2009 statistics as positive, and believe truck crime is becoming less of an issue.
Despite the fact that the number of recorded freight crimes in 2009 (3.288) dropped 12% on 2008 (4.171). this does not mean crime rates are falling in real terms.
In 2008. there were more than 350 incidents of diesel siphoned out of lorries, and just 154 last year.
However. TruckPol axed the record ing of fuel thefts under 1,000 litres last year. and this had previously accounted for a large proportion of reported crimes, says DC Alan Soames. the head of the unit.
And while the number of HCiVs stolen fell 15.4% to 1,604 during the period, the number of thefts from lorries rose 7% — to 1,103 from 1,031.
Violent freight crimes in 2009 (27) were almost 50% lower than the 50 reported in the previous year. Soames tells CM this declining pattern will not necessarily continue in 2010.
He says: The drop in violent attacks could he attributed to drivers being more aware and not parking so much in lay-bys, hut in February 2010, there were five hijacks, which is worrying."
Are police forces reporting enough? Six out of 13 of the police forces that report to TruckPol continued to see freight crimes rise across their regions, although it was good to see the number of eases in the Metropolitan Police region dropping to 181 from 314 in 2008.
Speaking about the Mel, Soames says: "The reduction in crimes could be down to the fact there are fewer vehicles on the road due to the recession. I would argue that hauliers are doing a lot more in their security efforts, making them less vulnerable to freight crime."
TruckPol has contact with 38 of 43 police forces. but admits there is still a lack of communication from some of their partners in reporting truck crimes.
Soames says: "We have made the
decision to actively pursue information, rather than just relying on forces getting back to us. We are really keeping our heads to the grindstone."
Soames warns companies that operators also have a role to play in reporting incidents to the police, because the more pressure put on forces, the more the government will realise how serious freight crime is.
Trucks stolen in 2009
The most common stolen commercial vehicle last year were box vans 376 were taken followed by tippers (195)
and goods at-tics (96). Ivecos and DAFs were the most frequent targets.
"We believe there are still a lot of early-90s 'yea) and Leyland DAF models on the road: and they are hot targets because they are much more basic than today's lorries, so essentially easier to cannibalise to sell in poorer countries," Soames explains.
While trucks continue to be stolen as a means for taking the goods they contain, Truck Pol stresses there is a strong legitimate trade involving exporting goods vehicles to developing markets, and claims where there is a legitimate trade. there is often a corresponding trade in stolen vehicles.
Staten goods
Electronic items, clothes and shoes, food and beverages, and cigarettes increased in popularity as targets for thieves in 2009 compared with 2008.
According to TruckPol, 204 thefts from HGVs were recorded in Essex. particularly in the area close to Tilbury Port. Fashion items were the commonly stolen.
Meanwhile, Kent experieneel thefts from trucks, many on the A A20 approaches to Dover. Fashic electrical goods were some of tht popular loads for thieves in the cc
Although the bulk of thefts ot lay-bys overnight, service statiory not immune to criminals. A num incidents occurred at Reading St and some truckstops. Robbers fa% televisions and household elm items in the Thames Valley area.
Despite nearly halving, the ni of plant and machinery thefts an% country totalled 157 Don At Freight Transport Association manager of fleet information, -With around Lim worth of equipment stolen every week, a with a very low chance of recove not surprising the theft of machinery has been identified particular problem. Indeed, plan was a key theme of the ETA's Es Services Working Group cot& last year."
He adds:-There is hope that by ing with the authorities. industi help break up the criminal nel responsible. With initiatives such Plant Theft Action Group's CI scheme. a national register of ide machinery will thwart much activity responsible for the crime,
While there is no magic qu solution to beating freight crime,' Pal is keen to stress drivers shoi secure parking wherever they ca continue to report crimes. becau fortunately, the problem is certail going to go away any time soon.