A huge spike in cargo thefts around the Christmas period in the last few years has urged police to warn consumers and haulage companies about the issue.
West Mercia Police want the public to be extra vigilant in avoiding purchasing presents or goods on the black market, while haulage firms are warned to be on their guard about thieves.
Cargo thefts have contributed to an estimated loss of £1.35 million in goods from service stations at Frankley, Strensham, Telford and Hopwood over the past few years, with officers expecting there to be even more opportunities for thieves this time of year.
Toys, food, white goods, and perfumes are among the types of products that organised crime gangs are targeting for a quick resale, with 140 such crimes in the West Mercia force area this year – almost double last year’s total of 83.
Last Friday, December 1 a trailer full of cheeses with an estimated value of £50,000 was stolen from Strensham services on the M5 and another full of household goods including washing powder and food was taken from the Hartlebury Trading estate near Kidderminster on November 26.
Detective sergeant Andrew Farmer of the Field Intelligence team in South Worcestershire said: “The majority of these thefts are linked to an organised crime gang in West Yorkshire that has been operating for decades as well as ones in the West Midlands and Merseyside who see it as a ‘low-risk high reward’ enterprise.
“We recognise there is an increased demand for black market goods, perhaps because of inflation rises and the cost-of-living crisis.
“We continue to work collaboratively with partner forces to tackle these crimes with officers deterring criminal gangs from targeting delivery lorries by ensuring police are present in hot-spot areas, especially during the evenings.”
Visit www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/13659.aspx for secure lorry parking locations.
