TAPA: Europe subjected to 3 major cargo crimes daily

The average financial loss of these crimes was 205,625 euros (about $220,000), the trade group said.    According the Transported Asset Protection Association, there was an average of three major cargo crimes a day “targeting high-value, theft-attractive product” across Europe in 2014. 
   The average financial loss of these crimes was 205,625 euros (about $220,000), said the trade group, which promotes enhanced cargo security and protections.
   TAPA noted its findings in its newly released 2014 Incident Information Service (IIS) Annual Report for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
For the year, TAPA EMEA recorded 1,102 incidents of cargo crime. Of the 33 percent of crimes reporting a value, total losses for the year were about 74.8 million euros (about $80 million).
   TAPA noted the amount of violence associated with cargo crime is up 4.5 percent year over year. There were 102 “violent hijackings” of trucks reported, notably in France, Italy and South Africa. 
   The top 10 cargo crimes in 2014 involved a combined loss of about 32.5 million euros (nearly $35 million). “Overall, there were 15 thefts from facilities and vehicles during the year with losses exceeding 1 million euros ($1.07 million) as criminal gangs targeted everything from scratchcards, cosmetics, consumer electronics, and clothing and footwear to tobacco products, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, car parts and tires, and cash,” TAPA said.
   The association said it’s working with the European Commission, INTERPOL, Europol, the World Customs Organization, national government ministries, law enforcement agencies and the insurance industry to “identify the most effective ways to support its members’ continuous drive for supply chain resilience.”