CARGO CRIME IN THE MEDIA


27 Successes - Law Enforcement Operations


November 2019 23 members of family cargo theft clan arrested


April/May 2020 14 arrested from 2 suspected cargo theft groups


May/June 2020 4 cargo theft suspects arrested following string of incidents


• Group targeted AP-7 thefts estimated at EUR 1.6M • Targeted services at night • MO - cut peep holes - slash curtains - in/out in 10 mins • Would resort to robbery if disturbed


• 2 cargo theft groups targeted N-11, A2 motorways • MO - scout car van - slash and grab, forced entry • EUR 72,000 in stolen goods recovered • 27 suspected attacks


• Group targeted AP-7 (including Castellbisbal) • Suspected of stealing EUR 110,000 of goods • Targeted high-end products • EUR 40,000 in toys recovered


the Covid-19 crisis. Most thefts took place on weekdays with a clear drop at weekends.


42 incidents took place during the actual delivery, most likely during the vulnerable time when the driver opens the vehicle to fetch goods or when the driver leaves the (hopefully locked) vehicle to deliver a parcel.


Most Last Mile delivery incidents took place in city streets with regular vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The criminals know they must act quickly, grab what they can and quickly escape to avoid detection. As a result, loss values in the vast majority of Last Mile delivery incidents were relatively low. Over 80% of the financial losses were less than €1,500.


The importance of route planning


Although incidents seem opportunist in nature, criminals are actively targeting Last Mile delivery vehicles. They either wait to ambush vehicles as they arrive at a delivery point or follow delivery vehicles by car or scooter until they stop to make a delivery. ‘Tailing’ a delivery vehicle is fairly easy in Barcelona’s congested and often narrow city streets.


Cargo theft incidents 2020. Barcelona - criminal opportunities


Unrestricted access to unsecured parking areas with little surveillance or security is central to the adversary’s opportunity. Drivers park at unsecured locations due to restrictions on driving hours, mandatory rest requirements, financial constraints, or simply due to a lack of secure parking options. As a result, most thefts happen at night when drivers are sleeping, similar to conditions elsewhere in Europe.


The inherent vulnerability of Last Mile deliveries is exploited by the criminals. Drivers must open the secure cargo compartment and leave the vehicle multiple times on public streets to make their deliveries. With drivers under intense pressure to fulfil multi-drop ‘next day’ deliveries, complacency can creep in.


Drivers may forget or not bother to lock the vehicle at each drop, for example.


A hotspot for Last Mile delivery incidents


Last year, there were 56 incidents between August to December with a significant increase in the run up to Christmas. Most thefts took place in central and south/western Barcelona city and along the AP-7 motorway.


There have been 49 incidents to date in 2020 with a sharp drop off in incidents following the New Year. This, however, is most likely to be a simple reflection of COVID-19 movement restrictions. As these restrictions are relaxed and ultimately lifted, we expect cargo crime to return to the high levels we saw before


There have also been a handful of incidents at the Castellbisbal and Collsabadell motorway service areas on the AP-7 motorway over the last year. Each site has both secure and unsecured parking areas. Not surprisingly, the incidents took place in the unsecured parking areas, reinforcing the importance of using secure parking when available.


For longer distance transports, staging the journey to avoid overnight stops at service areas on the outskirts of Barcelona, particularly on the on the AP-7, A-2 and N-11 motorways, is important. Use of hard-sided trailers where feasible also reduces the risk of being a ‘soft target’ and secure parking should be used when available, particularly sites accredited by a 3rd party such as TAPA.


To reduce the risks to Last Mile deliveries, use of vehicles without company markings or livery can offer some protection. Slam locks should be fitted as a standard and procedures


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