Historically cargo thefts increase up to 40% during the winter holidays and experts expect similar increases for this coming 2023 holiday season. Food & Beverage has been the top commodity targeted so far in 2023, however, during past holiday season thieves have preferred Electronics, Designer Clothing and Household Goods. The top two targeted locations for cargo theft are: 1) Warehouse/Distribution Centers and 2) Parking Lots.
As trailer thefts and burglaries increase during the holiday season we recommend companies, especially retailers, remind their logistics and traffic teams to take extra precautions to secure their buildings, trucks and trailers.
Below is a sample message:
This message is a reminder to take extra precautions during the upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays to ensure the physical security of our buildings, trucks and trailers is in place, and to protect our physical inventory against loss due to theft.
Our assets are particularly vulnerable during this time of year with reduced staffing, vacations and extended periods where the operation is closed and no one is present on-site.
In addition, trucking companies and parcel carriers will use many ‘temporary employees’ during the holidays, thus increasing our exposure to people we don’t know.
Some basic items to consider include:
. Advise your local security/alarm provider of your work schedule and the times when the building is not occupied. This is also a good time to verify your call-list with the alarm company and the protocol they have on-file. Damage from fire, sprinkler systems or water line breaks can also create significant inventory loss; therefore, make sure your monitoring company is alert and has an up-to-date call list.
. Verify the security systems in place (locks, access controls systems, CCTV, etc.) at all building entrances and exits, including dock doors, are in good working order. Double check to ensure that alarm points-of-protection are activated and functioning by conducting an “alarm test” with your alarm company.
. Ensure all trailers have 5th wheel locks/air brake locks in place, side and backdoors are padlocked, and delivery vehicles are locked and secured.
. Remove keys form all facility equipment and place them in a secure location, especially motorized pallet jacks and fork lifts.
. Advise local law enforcement of your Holiday schedule and request additional patrols of your building’s exterior and parking lots.
. End-of-Day transactions should have strict vetting processes; a second look by a supervisor prior to tendering a load to a carrier may prevent a theft.
. Beware of a trucker willing to take an undesirable load for a lower rate than the industry standard may be setting you up for a theft.
Your location could a target; Do not assume you are not! $
