Policy Text
TRAINING BULLETIN
Bulletin Index: IV - L
Alphabetical Index: Investigating Cargo Thefts
Taking Cargo Theft Reports
Date: 17 Feb 99
Introduction
Over the last several years, the cost of cargo-th eft-related crimes has risen dramatically. It is
estimated that the combined lo sses suffered by the trucking industry. insurance companies, and
the rail-roads in California surpass $500 million annually.
In response to these problems, Assembly Bill 1683 designated the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to coordinate and implement a Cargo Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP). In an effort to
track losses due to cargo thefts. the CTIP has established a statewide cargo-theft database.
As law enforcement teams put pressure on carg o thieves operating in Southern California.
organized groups of criminals have turned to the Bay Area as the target for thei r illegal activities.
Cases indicate that many stol en cargo loads transit through th e Central Valley in route to
Southern California via Highway 99.
Investigating Cargo Thefts
Officers taking initial theft reports involving tractors and/or trailers should attempt to document
the following issues in their investigation.
• Identify the approximate quantity of the car go, commonly expressed as the number of pallets
or cases, and the value, if possible, and include this info rmation in the narrative of your
report.
Include a copy of the bill of lading, one of the best ways to identify the quantity and
value of any cargo. If need be, the bill of la ding can be photocopied and returned to the
driver.
If the bill of lading was stolen with the loa d, the driver’s dispatcher may have information
on the load. The differences between cargo theft and normal vehicle theft can be subtle but important. When an automobile is stolen, it is usually st olen for transportation or sale or to commit a
secondary crime such as a robbery. In cargo thef t, the theft of the commercial trailer and
the secondary crime—the theft , of the cargo—o ccur at the same time. This fact makes it
imperative that information on the contents of the trailer be put in the initial report. While
the trailer’s value may be as little as $10,000, the value of the cargo inside the trailer may
be as much as $1,000,000.
• Ascertain identifying markings on the tractor and/ or trailer such as owner-applied numbers or
company logos.
Many commercial vehicles are identified by their owners through owner-applied numbers
(OAN). An OAN is different from a serial number and should be listed in the report. In
the case of a commercial container and a ch assis, the OAN will be different for each.
Request your dispatcher enter the OAN in the Automated Property System (APS).
• Ensure that serialized cargo is entered into the APS.
• Since the driver will make a stolen report for a company, include the company name and a
contact person in your report narrative. In many cases. this company name will be different
from the registered owner.
• When you enter the stolen information with dispat ch. advise that caution code "K" be entered
in the Stolen Vehicle System (SVS).
Caution code "K" designates the stolen vehicle or trailer as cargo-involved in the same
way that "A/D" designates a stolen vehicle or trailer as associated with an armed-and-
dangerous person.
• Document physical evidence at the crime scene such as broken locks, broken seals, shoe
prints, and possible surveillance cameras.
The circumstances surrounding the theft are fr equently the key to the investigation.
When checking the surrounding area for witnesses and evidence, look to see if other trailers nearby were broken into.
• Interview the driver and consider him/her a poten tial suspect. Confirm as much of the driver's
story as possible.
A significant percentage of cargo thefts occur with the driver's complicity.
Ask the driver if the load was locked or sealed and how long the vehicle was left at its location. Ask the driver if he mentioned his lo ad or pick-up location to anyone or if he
noticed anyone following him. Many cargo thie ves follow a driver from the terminal or
engage in conversation with drivers to obtain information on the load.
For assistance from CTIP personnel in the inve stigation of cargo thef ts, call the CTIP San
Francisco office at (415) 904-978l.