Cargo theft recording firm SensiGuard is warning the trucking industry about increased cargo theft activity during the long Labor Day weekend. (Photo by 365Trucking.com)With Labor Day weekend looming, cargo theft recording firm SensiGuard is reminding truck drivers and fleets that cargo thieves tend to be more active over holiday weekends.
The firm says during Labor Day weekends of 2012 through 2016, it recorded 39 percent more thefts than on normal, non-holiday weekends. The 2016 Labor Day weekend had a total of 14 cargo theft incidents worth more than $2.5 million, SensiGuard reports.
To combat theft over the extended weekend, the firm recommends that truckers and trucking companies confirm with receivers their hours of operation to cut down on unsecured parking times. Additionally, covert GPS tracking and active monitoring of high-value loads are recommended by the firm to mitigate theft and help in recovery efforts.
Some notable Labor Day weekend thefts in recent years, according to SensiGuard, include:
- Facility theft of sporting goods worth $1.5 million in California in 2016
- Full truckload theft of cell phones worth $300,000 in California in 2016
- Pilferage of pharmaceuticals worth $225,000 in Florida in 2015
- Facility theft of cell phones worth $1.5 million in Tennessee in 2014
- Full truckload theft of TVs worth $680,000 in California in 2013
