FTA is represented on a number of police and industry groups including JAGOLT (the Joint Action Group On Lorry Theft) and TruckWatch. This bulletin is circulated to members as part of our commitment to support the police in their work against lorry and load theft.

All the items in this Theft Alert! have a common theme, which is that drivers and office staff alike knew what to do in potential theft situations and prevented suspects from successfully carrying out their crimes. Unfortunately, sometimes people are taken in. Recipients of this e-mail are invited to pass it on to those drivers or other appropriate members of staff in their organisations when it is safe and convenient to do so.

Deception attempt: submitted for members' information and to ensure that your staff are kept aware of such incidents in order to protect your company's property.

An hgv delivering in the NW10 area of London stopped close to the delivery location in order that the driver could check his A-Z. He was approached by a male, smartly dressed in a grey suit of medium build, 5'8" tall and in his 50's. This man ascertained where the driver was delivering to and said that "the load was for us as he worked there". He told the driver that he was just off to the other warehouse and that he would send someone to show the way, as it was not simple to find in the one-way system.

This male took the paperwork and shortly after another male appeared with the same paperwork, jumped into the cab and said he would direct the driver to the warehouse. The driver stated that he would have to ring his depot and check. The man was unfazed by this. The driver was told by his company NOT to drop goods off at any other location. The male directed the driver to a nearby industrial estate and said that the load would have to be transferred into another lorry.

The driver, now very suspicious, refused to do this and the suspect then left in a hurry. The load was beers and spirits.

Suspicious vehicle following a load: specially marked container

In this case on collection of a container the driver removed a blue sticker from it. Was it placed there to aid identification and the following of the vehicle?

A driver reported a suspicious vehicle, either a VW Passat or Honda Accord, silver in colour, after leaving Thamesport, Isle of Grain. In addition to the events reported below he also advised that a blue sticker approximately the size of a standard hazardous label (10" x 10") was attached to the rear of the container. Before leaving the port he removed the sticker and discarded it. It was endorsed either GEEST or GUEST.

Due to traffic delays on the M11 the driver took an alternative route and diverted from the M25 to the North Circular (A406) and noted the car following as he passed under the M25 on the A1 northbound. As the driver was suspicious he pulled into a lay-by without indicating and as the car followed into the lay-by he pulled out again. The car followed. The driver managed to lose the following vehicle after changing lanes in heavy traffic at the A1/A14 junction.

The container was loaded with televisions and was destined for Dixons Regional Distribution Centre at Newark.

Bogus HSE officials in Scotland: seeking details of sites for inspection

The following information was furnished by a freight and cargo forwarding company operating in the vicinity of Glasgow Airport.

"We have recently been contacted by someone calling himself Neal Jenks, purporting to be an Inspector from the Health and Safety Executive, stating that he is following up an employee complaint, and requesting details of our current sites in order to carry out inspections on some of them. We have also had a similar request from someone named Chris McCarthy.

"No-one with those names works for the HSE, and certain other details of the conversations that we have had with these people indicate that they are bogus.

"HSE has confirmed that it has received a similar report from another company so we must emphasize the need to check credentials if you are approached. All HSE inspectors carry identification and a warrant card.

"HSE will welcome calls from FTA members reporting anyone making a similar suspicious enquiry. Contact Richard Lockwood, Principal Inspector, Birmingham Office, tel 0121 607 6142.

Suspicious 'police' car following a load: did not fool the lorry driver

A driver for Asda spotted a dark coloured Vauxhall Omega occupant indicating that something was wrong with his lorry. The driver knew this to be incorrect as he had just done his regular vehicle checks. The Omega occupant placed a blue light on top of their car and tried to get him to stop.

Part registration for the Omega taken as KD52?W?. It was either black or dark blue and had tinted windows.

Another vehicle was sighted that was believed to be connected to the Omega. As the driver came out of Magna Park, Leicester and turned right, he saw a white Mitsubishi Carisma R reg parked up. This contained 2 males who appeared to be using walkie talkies. It was shortly afterwards that the Omega tried to flag him down.

The lorry driver did not stop and blasted his horn at them. The Omega then made off towards Hinckley.

If anyone has information regarding the items in this Theft Alert you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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