Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Q2 2020

Author: NaVCIS Intelligence Analyst Contributor: NaVCIS Intelligence Researcher Date/version: 20th August 2020/v.1 Classification: OFFICIAL Handling instructions: This document is intended to inform NaVCIS’ strategic governance structures and Freight industry partners. This document should not be shared outside of this audience without prior permission of the author.

OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Introduction Partners NaVCIS receive cargo crime notifications from a number of sources The work undertaken by NaVCIS Freight Crime would not be possible namely Police, Industry, Hauliers, Insurers, Cargo Surveyors, Trade without the assistance & funding from our financial partners. Organisations, the Road Haulage Association, and the British International Freight Association. Reported cargo crime data is received regularly from 34 UK police forces. The remaining forces provide data on a quarterly basis.

Aims and Objectives The aim of this report is to analyse the cargo crime data in relation to all cargo crime notifications received for the period April, May and June 2020 (Q2), in order to provide an overview and assessment of the scale and nature of thefts nationally.

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Creating value from data 2 OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Key Findings Recommendations

• There were 783 Cargo crime notifications during Q2. • Discover what security measures are currently in place • The total loss in Q2 was £16,020,723.94. at the most vulnerable MSA’s and look at ways to • 70% of notifications were Theft From Motor Vehicle increase them if appropriate. (TFMV) offences. • Consider any alternatives to using soft-sided trailers to • South Yorkshire was the top force area for TFMV transport commodities or look at ways to improve the offences (12%). security of the soft-sided trailer. For example, use • There were 164 notifications of cargo crime at slash resistant tarpaulins. Motorway Service Areas (MSA’s). • Consider regularly changing routes or stops for breaks • Birchanger Green Services was the most vulnerable in order to prevent any recognisable patterns for the MSA (7%). journey. • There were 371 notifications of cargo crimes at • Plan journeys to include stops for breaks at secure Independent Road Parking locations. parking places. • Curtain Slashing was the most frequently reported method of entry to trailer for TFMV offences. • Fuel was the most frequently stolen commodity (31%) • Bedfordshire was the top force area for theft of fuel offences (23%). To find out how to join our sponsorship team and how we can • The hotspot areas were split into 3 in terms of work together to assist in combating Freight & Cargo crime – describing a more geographical location; North; please contact: [email protected] Midlands and South (and not necessarily volume). The north comprised of 48 offences, the Midlands comprised of 40 offences and the South comprised of 71 offences. 3 OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Overview During April, May and June 2020 (Q2), NaVCIS have received 783 Figure 2 shows the number of cargo crime offences per day, during Q2 2020, notifications of Cargo crime. This is a 34% reduction in the number of according to notifications received by NaVCIS using ‘earliest date’ of the offences compared to Q1. It is inferred that this is due to the offence. There are two clear spikes on 16th April (31) and 20th April (30), continuation of the COVID-19 crisis period. The notifications during April which include 17 Vehicle Interference offences (16th April) and 23 Vehicle and May saw further reductions since the end of Q1, but the number of Interference offences (20th April) at , M25, which are notifications in June has increased back to March levels. outlined on the next slide. If these offences are removed, the highest number of offences occurred on 9th June 2020 (22). These 22 offences on 9th The combined cost price value of these cargo crimes in Q2 is June, occurred across 16 different force areas, with Cambridgeshire having £16,020,723.94, but retail values would be at least four times greater. the most offences (3), followed by Warwickshire, West Yorkshire, Essex, and Bedfordshire, who all had 2 offences each. The majority of offences were TFMV (77%) and occurred overnight (77%).

Figure 1 – Cargo Crime notifications Figure 2 – Cargo Crime offences per day during Q2

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Hotspot areas Figure 4 shows the hotspot area which is made up of offences at Thurrock Services, M25, Essex.

. There are 42 notifications at this location in April 2020, across three dates.

. 17 of these related to Vehicle Interference offences, which occurred on Thursday 16th April 2020, between 22:45hrs and 22:55hrs. Offenders unknown have approached an attended HGV and entry gained to semi trailer by cutting curtains. No products stolen.

. There were a further 23 Vehicle Interference offences, using the same modus operando (MO), which occurred on Tuesday 20th April between Figure 3 – Heat Map for all Cargo Crime notifications Figure 4 – Hotspot area – Thurrock Services 22:16hrs and 02:43hrs.

Figure 3 shows a heatmap of all cargo crime notifications received during Q2, using the offence . Between Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th April postcode. However, the main hot spot area shown within the red circle has highlighted offences at (00:01hrs to 23:59hrs), one TFMV offence and one Thurrock Services, M25, Essex, which is slightly misleading. It is showing as a hotspot area, due to the Vehicle Interference offence were reported., using volume of notifications, but these relate to 42 notifications at this location, but they occurred across the same MO as above, but £11,200.00 worth of three dates, as described opposite. Therefore, a further hotspot map without these offences is also alcohol was stolen in the TFMV offence. shown on the following page.

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Hotspot areas Hotspot 1

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Figure 5 – Heat Map for all Cargo Crime notifications Figure 6 – Hotspot 1

Figure 5 shows a heatmap of cargo crime Hotspot 1 comprises of offence locations in West and Other emerging areas within this hotspot cover a notifications received during Q2, without those at South Yorkshire. However, as figure 6 shows, there is greater expanse. These include: Thurrock Services. Without these offences, the one distinct area which has the highest volume in a . A1 corridor between Bawtry and Knottingley (23), spread of offences and increase in the number of single area. predominantly TFMV offences. hotspots is clear to see. The hotspot areas can be . Leeds Skelton Services, M1 (5). split into three areas in terms of simplified S75 3DL(8) – A616, Barnsley . Truck Stop, Castleford (4). geographical locations (not volume of offences): 1) . TFMV offences (8). . Industrial Estate, Wakefield (4). th th North; 2) Midlands; 3) South. . Offences occurred between 17 April and 5 June. . All TFMV offences were fuel thefts. 6 OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Hotspot areas Hotspot 2

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Figure 7 – Heat Map for all Cargo Crime notifications Figure 8 – Hotspot 2

Figure 7 shows a heatmap of cargo crime notifications Hotspot 2 comprises of three areas: received during Q2, without those at Thurrock . NG9 3PL postcode. Services. Without these offences, the spread of . LE10 3BQ and CV7 8NR postcodes. offences and increase in the number of hotspots is . PE7 3UJ, PE7 3UQ and PE8 6LR postcodes. clear to see. The hotspot areas can be split into three areas in terms of simplified geographical locations: 1) The breakdown of these is on the following slide. North; 2) Midlands; 3) South.

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Hotspot areas – Hotspot 2

NG9 3PL postcode LE10 3BQ and CV7 8NR postcodes PE7 3UJ, PE8 6LR and PE7 3UQ postcodes

Figure 9 – Hotspot 2 area 1 Figure 10 – Hotspot 2 area 2 Figure 11 – Hotspot 2 area 13 NG9 3PL (8) – Trowell Services (MSA) LE10 3BQ (10) - Logix Road, Hinckley PE7 3UJ (8) – Great North Road, Chesterton . Vehicle Interference offences (6) and TFMV offences (2). . TFMV offences (9) and Vehicle Interference offence (1). . Vehicle Interference offences (5) and TFMV offences (3). . Offences occurred between 16th April – 14th May, with 4 . Offences occurred between 14th April and 29th June. . Offences occurred between 4th May and 10th June. offences on 16th April and 2 offences overnight 13th May. . The method of entry used was Seals/ padlocks cut. . The method of entry used was Curtain Slash (7) and PE8 6LR (6)– Old Great North Road, Stibbington Seals/ padlocks cut (1). CV7 8NR (5) – , M6 . Vehicle Interference offences (3) and TFMV offences (3). . Vehicle Interference offences (3) and TFMV offences (2). . Offences occurred between 28th April and 19th June. . Offences occurred between 28th May and 18th June, with 2 offences on 12th June. PE7 3UQ (3) – Peterborough Services, A1 (M) . The method of entry used was Curtain Slash (3) and . Vehicle Interference offences (3). Seals/ padlocks cut (2). . All offences occurred overnight on 20th May 2020. . The method of entry used was Seals/ padlocks cut. 8 OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Hotspot areas Hotspot 3

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Figure 12 – Heat Map for all Cargo Crime notifications Figure 13 – Hotspot 3

Figure 12 shows a heatmap of cargo crime notifications Hotspot 3 comprises of three areas: received during Q2, without those at Thurrock . A421, Bedford, LU5 6HR and MK16 8DS postcodes. Services. Without these offences, the spread of . CM23 5QZ postcode. offences and increase in the number of hotspots is . EN6 3NE and EN6 3QQ postcodes. clear to see. The hotspot areas can be split into three areas in terms of simplified geographical locations (not The breakdown of these is on the following slide. volume of offences): 1) North; 2) Midlands; 3) South.

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Hotspot areas – Hotspot 3

A421 Bedford and LU5 6HR and MK16 8DS postcodes CM23 5QZ postcode EN6 3NE and EN6 3QQ postcodes

Figure 14 – Hotspot 3 area 1 Figure 15 – Hotspot 3 area 2 Figure 16 – Hotspot 3 area 3 A421 Bedford between Woburn and Wootton (34) CM23 5QZ (12)– Birchanger Green Services, M11 EN6 3NE (5)– Potters Bar . TFMV offences (33) and Vehicle Interference offence (1). . TFMV offences (12). . TFMV offences (4) and Vehicle Interference (1). th th . Offences occurred between 7 April and 25 June. . Offences occurred between 14th April and 30th June. . Offences occurred between 27th April and 9th June. . All TFMV offences were fuel thefts. . The method of entry used, where known, was Curtain . The method of entry used where known, was Curtain Slash (9) and Seals/ padlocks cut (2). Slash (3) and Seals/ padlocks cut (1). LU5 6HR (10)– , M1 . TFMV offences (8) and Vehicle Interference (2). EN6 3QQ (5)– , M25 . Offences occurred between 14th April and 19th June. . TFMV offences (5). . The HGV cab was targeted in 3 TFMV offences, stealing . Offences occurred between 27th April and 21st June. personal items. The method of entry used for the other TFMV . The method of entry used was Curtain Slash (2), cab offences was Curtain Slash (4) and Seals/ padlocks cut (1). targeted and personal items stolen (1) and fuel thefts (2).

MK16 8DS (5) – Services, M1 . TFMV offences (3) and Vehicle Interference (2). st th . Offences occurred between 21 April and 30 June. 10 . The method of entry used for all offences was Curtain Slash. OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Overview - Offence Type Overview - TFMV During Q2, over half of offences were Theft From Motor Vehicle (TFMV), During Q2, Independent Road Parking (IRP) was the most frequent accounting for 70% of all Cargo crime notifications received, which is location for TFMV offences (57%), followed by Motorway Service Areas consistent with Q1. As would be expected, the combined cost price (MSA) (16%), Secure Yards (SY) (10%) and Tobacco theft in transit (10%). value of the TFMV offences was also the highest (£8,602,589.90). However, this is a 40% reduction in the TFMV combined cost price value The top force area for all TFMV offences was South Yorkshire (12%), compared with Q1. followed by Bedfordshire (9%) and Essex (8%).

The offence type which had the next highest combined cost price value The average cost price value across all of the TFMV offences during Q1 was Theft which accounted for 3% of all Cargo crime notifications was £15,669.56. received. However, the stolen value of one of the theft offences was £3,000,000.00, which was a tobacco theft on 27/05/2020 (Northamptonshire Police force area), which will impact the ranking of Overview - Theft the offence type by combined cost price value. During Q2, the cost price value of Theft offences ranges from £15,000.00 to £3,000,000.00, with 70% being less than £100,000.00. The 3 million pound loss for one crime occurred during the early hours on 27/05/2020 within the Northamptonshire Police force area (but on the Warwickshire border). The offenders hitched up the trailer, containing tobacco and drove it away.

The thefts in Q2 occurred across seventeen different force areas, with five force areas having more than one Theft offence (Leicestershire (3), West Yorkshire (2), Suffolk (2), Northamptonshire (2) and Herefordshire (2). The three offences in Leicestershire occurred on different dates in April and June and targeted different commodities. The other force areas having more than one offence, also all occurred on different dates. Figure 17 – Cargo Crime by offence type 11 OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Overview - Stolen Commodity Type During Q2 2020, the most frequently stolen commodity is fuel, accounting for 31% of all stolen commodities overall, followed by Tobacco (10%).

Figure 18 – Table of top 5 stolen commodities . Fuel is also the most frequently stolen commodity within the top offence category of TFMV, accounting for 34%. . Within the theft offence category, semi-trailer is the most frequently stolen commodity, accounting for 35%. . Miscellaneous is the most frequently stolen commodity group within the offence category of Burglary, accounting for 40%. . Household Goods is the most frequently stolen commodity within the offence category of Deception, accounting for 40%. . There is no repeat stolen commodity within the offence category of Robbery. 12 OFFICIAL Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Theft of Fuel offences Figure 20 shows the location type for all of the fuel thefts across the three months, with Independent Road Parking locations being the top As already shown, the most frequently stolen commodity during Q2 is location during every month. There were 12 repeat IRP locations, in fuel, accounting for 31% of all stolen commodities. The top two force terms of the postcode of offences, with the top ones being MK43 9EA areas are Bedfordshire and South Yorkshire, as shown in figure 19, (A421, Bedford) (8) and S75 3DL (A616) (8). which together account for 39% of fuel thefts overall. Fuel offences in the Bedfordshire force area occurred at Independent Road Parking The number of fuel offences at Secure Yard locations has decreased locations (95%) and Secure Yards (5%). Fuel offences in the South since April, with the total number of offences in May and June being Yorkshire force area occurred at Independent Road Parking locations lower than the number of offences in April alone. There were no (94%), Secure yards (3%) and (MSA) (3%). The repeat secure yard locations during the three month period. peak times for all theft of fuel offences were overnight, particularly on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Figure 19 – Fuel thefts by force area Figure 20 – Fuel thefts by location type OFFICIAL 13 Quarterly Cargo Crime Update – April/ May/ June 2020

Method of Entry to trailer for all Theft From Motor Vehicle (TFMV) offences

Figure 21 shows the method of entry to trailer for all TFMV offences during Q2. For 41% of TFMV offences, the method of entry was recorded as ‘not applicable’. Therefore, the most frequently reported method of entry to trailer was Curtain Slashing, accounting for 29% of all TFMV offences.

Over half of the ‘curtain slashing’ offences occurred at Independent Road Parking locations (58%), followed by Motorway Service areas (31%). For all ‘curtain slashing’ offences, ‘miscellaneous’ was the top commodity group stolen (excluding unknown) (15%), followed by ‘food and drinks’ (11%). The combined cost value of all commodities stolen during Q2 using ‘curtain slashing’ as a method of entry is £4,993,156.90.

The top force areas for all ‘curtain slashing’ offences (20 offences or more) are Essex (18%), South Yorkshire (18%) and West Yorkshire (13%). Figure 21 – Method of entry for TFMV offences

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Offence Location Type Motorway Service Areas (MSA) Figure 22 shows the location type across all offences. The most frequent NaVCIS received 164 notifications of cargo crimes at Motorway Service Areas location type during Q2 is Independent Road Parking, accounting for during Q2 2020. This includes the 42 offences at Thurrock Services, M25, Essex, 47% of all offences, followed by Motorway Service Areas (21%). but they occurred across three dates, as described on slide 5 and therefore, will be classed as 3 incidents within this analysis.

The most vulnerable MSA location during Q2 was Birchanger Green Services, M11 (Essex force area), accounting for 7% of all offences at MSA locations, followed by Toddington Services, M1 (Bedfordshire force area) (6%) and Trowell Services, M1 (Nottinghamshire force area) (5%). Over half of all offences at MSA’s were Theft From Motor Vehicle (TFMV)(53%), where fuel was the most frequently stolen commodity type, accounting for 16% of all TFMV offences at MSA’s.

Figure 22 – Offence location type Independent Road Parking (IRP) NaVCIS received 371 notifications of cargo crimes at Independent Road Parking locations during Q2 2020. The top force areas for IRP offences are South Yorkshire (17%), followed by Bedfordshire (12%), West Yorkshire (9%), Essex (6%) and Thames Valley (6%). The most frequently stolen commodity at IRP locations is fuel (37%), with a cost price value of £212,400.00. The commodity with the highest stolen value at Independent Road Parking locations during Q2 is IT Products Figure 23 – Three or more offences at MSA’s 15 (£709,124.00). OFFICIAL