Thefts: RHA hits back
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• Theft is costing the road haulage industry millions of pounds a year and the problem is getting worse, according to the Road Haulage Association's north-eastern district.
It is urging the 1,500 member companies in its area to be extra vigilant and to take a good look at security arrangements. It also wants companies to check secondhand equipment offered at knockdown prices. "No measures are too stringent," says RHA northeast assistant district manager Richard Dixon.
Dixon believes organised criminals are travelling to the region to stea' to order, with many of th€ vehicles being broken dow for spares or shipped out if the country.
"The equipment taken is valued at many thousands of pounds and is extremely difficult to trace." He says thefts range from tools taken from depot workshops and engines lifted out of lorries, to tyres worth £400 each and new vehicles worth ,£60,000. "It has been going on for many years but in the past 18 months it has become more professional. A recent spate of tyre thefts, for example, meant they were being stolen in batches of 12-15. Though the thefts are reclaimable a lot of downtime on the vehicles is lost — business that can't be made up for," he says.
On many occasions, thefts occur in broad daylight, says Dixon. "Therefore, we are asking hauliers and the public to report instances of suspicious behaviour in or around transport depots.
"We want to build a more comprehensive picture of the problem in our area and will publish thefts in our national magazine. This is one area of growth we can do without."