Educating to prevent cargo theft

   To combat the estimated $5 billion yearly cost of cargo crime in Canada, the Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Provincial Auto Theft Network have banded together to offer annual training sessions.
   Red Flags at the Roadside II, held Wednesday, focused on cargo theft prevention and investigation. Officials hope to deter criminals from Canada’s $65 billion trucking industry, which, according to a report from FreightWatch International, saw an 18-percent jump in theft between 2011 and 2012.
   “Cargo theft is a big problem in the trucking industry, and we need to continue to educate drivers and carriers on good practices. We also need to work closely with the authorities on ways in which we can help each other to fight cargo theft,” Jean-Marc Picard, Executive Director, Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, said in a statement supporting the class.
   Area police officials are big attendees of the three-part class series, which focuses on giving police the tolls to recognize red-flags common in theft operations.
   “Cargo theft is a multi-billion dollar industry in Canada and the United States,” Paula Hanson of the Woodstock Police Force, who also supports the classes, said. “It is an enticing venture for criminals. Cargo theft is dominated by organized crime; and, a thriving black market keeps sophisticated and networked thieves in business.”