FWI: Cargo theft incidents skyrocket in Mexico

A total of 1,087 cargo thefts were reported in Mexico throughout 2015, a 73 percent increase from 2014.    Mexico’s number of reported cargo thefts grew 73 percent year-over-year in 2015 to 1,087 reported incidents, according to FreightWatch International Supply Chain Intelligence Center’s Mexico Cargo Theft Report for 2015.
   Reported cargo thefts rose significantly in the northern region of Mexico compared to 2014. However, the central zone of the country was at the highest risk for cargo thefts, primarily in the states of Puebla, Guanajuato and the State of Mexico.
   Broken down by state, the largest number of reported cargo thefts throughout 2015 occurred in Puebla, which accounted for 15 percent of the total reported incidents, followed by the State of Mexico (12 percent), Guanajuato (11 percent), Queretaro (8 percent) and Veracruz (7 percent).
   The highest amount of reported cargo thefts in Mexico occurred from August through November.
   Food and drinks remained the most stolen product type in 2015, accounting for 18 percent of total reported cargo thefts, followed by building and industrial (15 percent) and fuel (11 percent).
   Theft of fuel cargo reported during the year mainly occurred in the states of Guanajuato, Puebla, Tamaulipas and Queretaro. The most common form of reported fuel cargo theft in 2015 involved hijacking drivers while they were in transit and clandestine theft over time from warehouses.
   The MEX-57 (MEX-QRO) highway, which is the main arrival and departure corridor for Mexico City, has more incidents of cargo theft than any other highway in Mexico. The MEX-150D (MEX-PUE-VER) is also a high risk highway for cargo theft.