TT Club highlights alarming freight crime trend in Italy

The report highlights: More than 400 per cent increase in the frequency of insurance claims since 2021; Nearly a third of claims arise from theft from vehicles parked insecurely or at the roadside; The region of Lombardy emerges as the region with the highest rates of cargo theft; A significant lack of secure parking with only one space per 289 trucks; Notable increase in cargo theft from rail and Emerging trend of drone usage by criminals to investigate possible target sites

The extensive report, which draws on the wide-reaching data resources of the three organisations, shines a spotlight on the dynamic and evolving nature of freight crime in Italy, and the steps necessary to combat the threat.  

 Like many countries, Italy is seeing a rise in strategically planned cargo theft, with criminal groups employing ever more sophisticated means to infiltrate the legitimate supply chain.

The report highlights, however, that Italy is particularly attractive to thieves due to its well-known market of luxury and designer goods. Indeed, clothing, apparel and pharmaceuticals are noted as the most targeted commodities.

“Italy is not alone in experiencing concerning increases in cargo theft,” commented Josh Finch, Logistics Risk Manager at TT Club. “We are seeing the same trends across the board, with major highways and industrial hubs becoming key targets for criminals. The statistics clearly highlight the key issue: cargo at rest, unsecurely parked, parked on the roadside, around these main intersections, is most at risk.”

The co-authors outline the increasingly sophisticated means used by criminals to access cargo, specifically the emerging use of drones as a reconnaissance tool.

As with all awareness reports of this nature, TT and its co-authors are keen to offer guidance on how such theft risks can be alleviated with advice. The report contains preventative measures ranging from drone-disabling technology, radio frequency jammers, secure parking technology and the crucial importance of due diligence. “With the help of our partners, utilising a wide range of in-depth data resources, TT is committed to lifting the lid on international cargo crime to ensure the industry is better equipped to mitigate both large-scale and attritional cargo theft losses,” concluded Finch.

Earlier this May, TT Club claimed that focusing on a much-overlooked aspect of supply chain operations, such as systemic stockholding, order flow, and other inventory management processes can significantly reduce risk.