LoJack Supply Chain Integrity releases first annual cargo theft study

FORNEY, Texas, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- LoJack Supply Chain Integrity (LoJack SCI) today released results from its first annual cargo theft study, which is based on information the company collected and analyzed from its members in 2008 via its Supply Chain-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (SC-ISAC). The SC-ISAC is the only source for information and analysis sanctioned by the government that helps the supply chain community and law enforcement protect the supply chain from illegal and disruptive activities, such as theft, terrorism and natural disasters.

The data is based on reports provided by SC-ISAC members, which currently totals more than 1,500 users from nearly 600 organizations. According to the data reported, a total of 353 incidents occurred in 2008. Cargo theft was the most dominant activity with 299 cases.

"We're pleased to furnish the results of our first report, which is in line with our mission to provide members with information that helps protect their businesses from disruptive breaks in the supply chain and make informed decisions that preserve integrity within the chain," said Robert Furtado, LoJack SCI's Chief Executive Officer. "As this study reveals, cargo theft is a serious, ongoing problem that is very profitable for professional thieves and very costly for organizations throughout the supply chain. Especially in today's economic climate, companies cannot afford to pay the exorbitant price tag involved with having their cargoes stolen, which range from the actual value of the goods, to business downtime, to the loss of opportunities to market and sell seasonal goods, to the total loss of product sales. This report clearly highlights the need for solutions that protect and preserve our global supply chain."

The State of the State: Top 10 States with the Highest Cargo Theft Rates

According to the data reported, following are the top 10 states with the highest incidents of theft:

State Number of Incidents

Texas 68
Georgia 53
Tennessee 18
California 16
Florida 16
Ohio 10
Arkansas 9
New Jersey 9
Alabama 8
North Carolina 8

Location, Location, Location: Where Cargo Theft Most Often Occurs

Based on reported incidents of theft, following are the most common locations where cargo was stolen in 2008:

Location Number of Incidents

Truck Stops 83
Parking lots (including drop yards) 67
Facilities 40
Parked on Street 28
Warehouses 21
Store Locations 16
Other* (see list below) 11

*airports, casinos, ports, hotels

A significant number of thefts (87) were reported without details on theft location; however, it is most likely that the same dispersal of locations would apply to those incidents as well.

Timing is Everything: When Cargo Theft Occurs

Not a surprise to law enforcement or most victims of theft is the fact that weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are when the greatest number of thefts occur, with 168 incidents happening during this timeframe.