More than a year has passed since the
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) expanded its cargo theft reporting program in Western Canada; since then, the program has seen a significant number of reported incidents, helping businesses and the authorities understand how severe the cargo theft problem is in the region.
Notably, data from the reporting program suggests that most of the cargo thefts that occurred over the past year involved grocery items.
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“The high volume of reports surprised us the most,” IBC national director for investigative services Garry Robertson told
trucknews.com. “And as more agencies come online, they will only increase. The reports are continuing to climb as people become aware of the program. This is new on the list of known and documented criminal activities, so as people become more aware, the reporting increases.”
According to Robertson, the cargo theft reporting program’s presence in Western Canada is constantly growing with the support of various trucking associations, major police agencies and significant media coverage.
The program was initially created in 2011 for Ontario and Quebec by the Canadian Trucking Alliance. Through the program, insurers and trucking companies can report cargo theft and claims information to the IBC either through the internet, the CTA, or a provincial trucking association. The IBC then distributes the information to its investigative team and to regional partners across the country and in the US. The information is also kept in a national database, where it is analyzed regularly to identify trends and patterns.
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For the cargo theft reporting program’s first year in Western Canada, grocery items made up the bulk of total cargo stolen, at 62% according to data. Automotive parts came second, at 25%, and construction items third with 13%.
“Thieves are typically looking for everyday use items that are easily redistributed to smaller retail outlets across the country and beyond,” Robertson commented. “The stolen goods are often sold through legitimate businesses such as flea markets and small discount stores.”
Although the Greater Toronto Area has been identified as the area where the most cargo thefts in Canada occur, Robertson cautioned that any major metropolitan area can be targeted.
“Those involved in cargo theft are looking for easy access,” he explained. “Any location that is close to major highways that enable them to get in and out quickly may see a substantial amount of cargo theft.”
“The more data that can be obtained, the better the likelihood of a successful investigation,” he added.
It is estimated that cargo thefts cost Canadians about $5 billion a year.
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