The number of cargo thefts in the regions of Europe, Middle East and Africa regions has increased by twofold. According to the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), which is an international organisation combating cargo thefts, in 2019 the number of cargo thefts doubled from 3,981 to 8,548 incidents. Carrier companies have suffered losses of around EUR 137 million. The average daily loss in the region resulting from cargo thefts amounts to EUR 378,000.
The number of cargo thefts and other incidents has been increasing for many years. What is particularly worrying for the carriers is the number of incidents made public in March of 2020 by TAPA, which is the highest number of cases in the organisation’s 23-year history. The majority of cargo thefts still occur in the European region. The most cases of theft from trailers have been registered in Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Russia, Italy and Belgium. Thefts were registered in 48 countries last year, compared to 35 in 2018.
In the context of a significant increase in thefts, the European carriers are looking for ways to protect their cargo. At the current level of risk, comprehensive solutions are needed as cargo insurance, in this case, doesn’t always offer protection. Why? In many cases, not all losses are covered, and in the cases of non-compliance with the security requirements, insurance claims may not be covered at all.
In the case of cargo theft, the carrier is often the one held responsible. Therefore, cargo transport and logistics companies should pay particular attention to cargo safety. One of the ways to provide additional cargo protection is to use special high-quality equipment, such as Cargo Locking Systems®.
