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.

Christmas is coming! Additional drivers, hired-in vehicles, new rosters and routes all provide theft possibilities for opportunists if companies do not stay on their guard. Drivers are reminded of the golden rule - to only accept changes in their delivery or collection instructions from those they know in their own traffic offices (see the third and fourth items, below). Traffic office staff are also reminded to beware bogus callers seeking information on vehicle movements.

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.

Garage/workshop security

We have received a note from a member who reports that they had an Iveco Daily van stolen from a garage in Ossett, West Yorkshire.  While the vehicle was in for repair and parked on the garage forecourt, some opportunist walked into the office, picked the keys off the key hook and made off with the van: the first the garage knew about it was when staff heard the vehicle being started up outside and ran out to see it disappearing.  The van, liveried with ’Multipanel‘ and ’Grant Westfield‘ on the sides and rear was later seen driving erratically along Bradford Road weaving in and out of traffic and jumping red lights.

All members are warned to ensure the garages that deal with their vehicles keep the keys securely locked away. 

Attempted hijack, Scotland

At about 13.40 hours Tuesday, 20 November 2007, a vehicle  left Broxburn, Scotland, heading south. On leaving the premises the driver noticed a white Transit van with blacked out windows sitting nearby, which then followed him towards the motorway.

On several occasions the driver of the Transit van flashed his lights and tried to attract the attention of the lorry driver. The hgv driver ignored this and the driver of the van then drove alongside the lorry and tried to run him off the road and get him to stop. This included forcing him off the road at Harthill Services but the lorry driver just drove straight through and back onto the M8. Further on, the Transit tried to stop the lorry on the approach to roadworks but the lorry driver by-passed the works by using the hard shoulder.

The registration number of the Ford Transit is recorded as NIL 3719 (a false number).  The local police responded to the driver’s call but by the time they caught up with the lorry the suspect vehicle had left the motorway, possibly having seen the police helicopter approaching the scene.

Around the corner load disappeared

At about 14.00 hours on 27 September 2007, an agency driver arrived at a cash and carry warehouse in London with a high-value load of drinks.  Due to the yard being busy at the time, the driver was approached by the first suspect and asked to drive round the block to allow access to other vehicles.  On its return some 10 minutes later a second suspect approached the vehicle and advised the driver that he had arranged for the load to go to another site and jumped into the cab to direct the driver.

The journey lasted about 10 minutes.  The suspect alighted from the cab and met two other men in a white van.  Unfortunately there is no further description of this vehicle.  One hundred and thirty six cases from the consignment were then transferred into the white van. Descriptions of the two men are poor, but the first  is described as 6’1” with ginger coloured hair.  The second is described as 5’11” tall, broad build with fair hair.

Members should be aware that deceptions of this and similar kinds will be rife at this busy time of the year

Diversion fraud at Northampton

Between 06.00 – 07.00 hours on 19 November, at Caswell Road, Brackmills Industrial Estate, Northampton, a French driver arrived at his delivery point and was met by a white male, aged about 45, wearing a dark suit and tie and glasses.  He informed the driver that the loading bays were full and directed him to an alternative site nearby.

When the delivery driver arrived at the new location he was met by four males, all 25-45 years old, who then transhipped 26 pallets of wine on to two vehicles.

DAF or MERCEDES box van with registered number: TG02 UWA
SCANIA box with registered number: LT52 RAE

Both vehicles are believed to be on false or cloned numberplates.

Suspicious French Peugeot

TruckPol reports a haulier member has notified them that his drivers saw on several occasions on different days, the same suspicious white Peugeot Boxer-type van with a French registration plate (department 93) with two occupants.  The vehicle was noted from its arrival in Dover up to the M25 motorway/London West Ring.  It was following and overtaking lorries.

Suspicious vehicle around Milton Keynes

At around 20.40 hours on 9 October 2007, on the A421 from Buckingham to Milton Keynes, the driver of a Cadbury’s vehicle became aware of the following vehicle.

Vehicle registration was taken as: N46 DKL.  There are no police reports concerning it.  Vehicle type: blue Rover 420 saloon car.

The car followed him for 11 miles and flashed its headlights at the hgv on several occasions, despite the lorry making U turns at several traffic islands.

RHA seminar on lorry and load theft

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has confirmed that new arrangements for their postponed road freight security conference, ‘Combating Freight Crime’ are as follows:

Date 11 March 2008

Location Towcester Racecourse, Towcester,
Time: 09.00 to 16.00 hours

Presentations will be made by the ACPO Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service among others and John Stalker, former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police, will preside over the day. 

For booking and pricing details contact Mrs Jan Mills at RHA Head Office in Weybridge, telephone number 01932 841515.

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