Security Article
John Tabor
Corporate Security Director
National Retail Systems, Inc.
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2. Subsequent to the theft of a tractor and loaded trailer
(electronics) in the San Francisco Bay area, it was determined the
company had equipped their trailer with a high quality GPS tracking
system. Our investigators were able to locate the vehicles after they
were parked in a city several miles from the location of the theft.
Investigators determined the trailer was still loaded. A long-term
surveillance of the stolen vehicles was established due to the timing
of the theft and the number of stolen commercial vehicles recovered in
the same general area. Our experience indicated there was a high
probability the suspect(s) would return for the vehicles and high value
cargo. Eight days after the theft, the suspects returned to the
vehicles and moved them to a nearby warehouse. Investigators ultimately
arrested several suspects and recovered the stolen vehicles, the
electronics and six additional stolen cargoes.
We can't keep every shipment safe from theft. Cargo theft is a nationwide issue with a significant impact on the U.S. economy. This is no small issue - crimes perpetrated by random street thugs and inexperienced thieves. Organized cargo theft rings exist everywhere across the country and especially around the major port cities. Serious criminal gangs haunt south Florida, the New York metropolitan area and southern California. In recent years, regional crime rings have sprung up in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and Oakland.
John and the CTIP crew are just one of many valuable contacts to have in the event of a stolen trailer. Cargo theft task forces are appearing all over the country. Miami Police have their Tomcats unit, New Jersey State Police, Memphis Police have the Cargo Cats also in California. It is critical to get to know these officers on a personal level so they have a more vested interest in getting your merchandise back.
There are several ways you can help. These task forces need bait merchandise for sting operations. Return goods that are going to be destroyed could be perfect for these types of operations. They need money to pay informants; these are one of the most quiet but critical components of task force success. I often pay for travel expenses for officers to attend industry related events.
My security team prides itself on its ability to move the most desirable freight in a safe and timely manner. This is not accomplished by luck. Several key components are built into our Corporate Security program. I would advise all retailers to check with their carrier partners to ensure they are complying with the following list.
10 Critical Components of Every Supply Chain
1. All drivers must pass a stringent background check, including criminal
2. All loaded trailers must be locked and sealed at all times
3. Any area where loaded trailers are kept must have secure fencing
4. All facility entrances must have CCTV systems recorded on a digital platform
5. Ask to see copies of their training program as it relates to the handling of your merchandise
6. Drivers must never take a load home
7. Your carrier needs to have someone dedicated to Security that you can contact and work with
8. Ask to see their list of Police contacts
9. Make sure 'blind' release numbers are used for dispatching loads
10. Your carrier must have several redundant GPS devices built into their equipment: tractors, trailers and even in-load package trackers for high value shipments
Based on our experience, we would like to share some things to remember when addressing supply chain security for your company.
Communication is critical. A critical component of any strategy against cargo theft is effective intelligence gathering and information sharing. In many cases, law enforcement will recover a vehicle with all of the contents stolen long before the theft is reported to local agencies. While there is a definite need for timely cargo theft information sharing between law enforcement agencies, you can help the process by promptly reporting thefts to enforcement officials. Develop relationships with law enforcement in the areas where you operate. There are several multi-jurisdictional Cargo Theft task forces around the country. These members of law enforcement do nothing but investigate trailer load thefts. They know whom the thieves are and where they like to take their stolen bounty. Make it a point to know every one of these groups. Quick action and communication are the keys to successful recovery and stopping future crimes.
Don't react passively to loss. After a theft has been committed, have it thoroughly investigated rather than simply filing a police report or insurance claim. Because many companies do not aggressively investigate, cargo thieves strike with little or no concern for being caught. In fact, crime rings often focus on the same companies, hitting them continuously until they are no longer easy targets.
Establish security compliance standards for you and your partners. Clarify your expectations. You want to be sure that your carriers are doing enough proactively and, equally important, will do the right thing if a theft occurs. Do they have the latest GPS technology and IT systems for tracking shipments? Are their facilities safe? How safe? Do they have the right personnel and processes in place to address cargo security?
Do not assume your shipments are safe in the hands of a third party. Make it your responsibility to ensure they are protecting your cargo the way you yourself want it done.
With over 95% of my company's workload based in the retail sector, I have no choice but to stay on top of all the latest trends in cargo theft. I'm often asked by clients, "Why should I care so much about preventing thefts when I don't own the merchandise until you deliver it?" The answer is because you, the retailer, stand to loose the most. You loose potential sales when the merchandise is sold on the black market in your neighborhoods. If the load happens to be "hot" ad freight, you loose customer loyalty when the items are not in stock. You loose when the stolen merchandise is used for fraudulent refunds in your store. There are countless ways that you stand to loose from an unsecured supply chain.
Hopefully, this article has provided some ideas on how to improve security and to help stop cargo theft.
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