FWI: Central Mexico remains at high risk for cargo theft

Rail theft has emerged as a more prevalent problem in Mexico, primarily in the states of Guanajuato and Querétaro, while fuel theft across the nation has also increased.    The FreightWatch International Supply Chain Intelligence Center (FWI SCIC) reported Mexico’s highest risk areas for cargo theft during the first quarter of 2016 were concentrated in the central region of the country.
   Mexico’s top five states with the highest amount of reported cargo thefts during the quarter were Puebla with 56 reported incidents, the state of México with 42 reported incidents, Veracruz with 40 reported incidents, Querétaro with 37 reported incidents and Guanajuato with 27 reported incidents, according to the FWI SCIC’s Q1 2016 Cargo Theft Intelligence Report for Mexico.
   Since the majority of cargo theft incidents in Mexico identified by the FWI typically provide just partial information on the type of merchandise stolen, the percentage of unknown product types stolen is high, and accounted for 28 percent of reported incidents during the quarter. Food and drinks were the second most stolen product type during the quarter, accounting for 23 percent of reported cargo thefts, followed by fuel (16 percent), building and industrial goods (8 percent), and auto and parts (5 percent).
   During the quarter, 77.4 percent of reported cargo thefts occurred while the cargo was in transit, which mainly involved hi-jacking.
   Meanwhile, 14.2 percent of cargo thefts took place while the cargo was inside the client’s yard facilities; 7.5 percent occurred when the truck stopped on the side of the road for food, rest or repairs; and 0.9 percent took place when cargo was inside yards, boarding houses or workshops.
   The global logistics security provider also noted in the Q1 report that products not previously considered targets of theft, such as fuel, are now positioned as high-risk merchandise. In addition, criminals are beginning to pay more attention to rail theft, primarily in the states of Guanajuato and Querétaro.
   In 2015, Mexico experienced a strong surge in reported cargo thefts, rising 73 percent year-over-year to 1,087 reported incidents, with the most reported incidents occurring in central Mexico, according to the FWI SCIC’s Mexico Cargo Theft Report for 2015.