STOLEN GOODS

Britain has the worst rate of vehicle crime in Western Europe. Theft from vehicles and warehouses costs the UK about #1000M per year. This article reports some findings by E Hardy, research director of the European Vehicle Theft Programme. The Freight Transport Association (FTA) conducted its latest survey on commercial vehicle theft in 1998, which showed that light vans are most liable to theft, at 11.2 per thousand vehicles per year. However, there is very little information about vehicle theft in Europe or even in the UK. The National Lorry Desk (NLD) collects some very valuable data, but receives it from only 35 of the 43 constabularies in the UK. It refers to 571 commercial vehicle theft cases in 1998, including 264 vehicles and 197 trailers stolen, although the data do not record the types of vehicles stolen. Only 10% of the vehicles were stolen without loads. The loads most likely to be stolen are clothing, followed by household goods, mixed loads, and computers. Professional gangs of lorry thieves are very skilled and work amazingly fast; lorries between two and three years old are prime targets, as they are often broken to provide a supply of spare parts. Eastern Europe is a major destination for stolen vehicles. The article lists ten simple security steps to minimise commercial vehicle theft, and quotes the TT Club nine-point check list for depot security.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00160849
• Corporate Authors:

  Freight Transport Association

  Hermes House, St. Johns Road
  Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9UZ,   England 
• Authors:
  • MURRAY, N
• Publication Date: 1999-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 18-20,22
• Serial:
  • FREIGHT
  • Volume: 32
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Freight Transport Association
  • ISSN: 0016-0849

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commodities; Costs; Crimes; Data collection; Delivery vehicles; Freight traffic; Intermodal terminals; Interviewing; Law enforcement; Offenders; Organizations; Police; Prevention; Research projects; Vehicles
• Geographic Terms: Europe; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 224: Cost; 8623: Data acquisition; 1234: Delivery vehicle; 1534: Enforcement (law); 8034: Europe; 283: Freight; 9147: Interview; 1516: Offence; 1508: Offender; 9057: Organization (association); 1522: Police; 9149: Prevention; 8557: Research project; 8119: United Kingdom; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Finance; Freight Transportation; Research; Security and Emergencies; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00782697
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Feb 7 2000 12:00AM