Purpose of this paper This paper describes the patterns of and trends in reported cargo thefts at non-secure parking facilities in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) with respect to stolen value, frequency, incident category, and modi operandi. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a system-theoretical approach, which emphasizes a holistic rather than an atomistic view. The research method used in this paper is deductive; the analysis is based on the data obtained from the Incident Information Service (IIS), a transport-related crime database of the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) in the EMEA. The results are analyzed and discussed within a frame of reference based on supply chain risk management and criminology theories. Findings We found that 97 percent of all attacks during a stop occur at non-secure parking locations. Cargo theft at non-secure parking locations is more of a volume crime rather than a high-impact cargo theft. Seasonal variations were found in cargo thefts at non-secure parking locations. The most common type of cargo theft at non-secure parking areas is intrusion theft occurring on weekdays during the winter. Research limitations/implications (if applicable) This study performs a theoretical deduction using official statistics on antagonistic threats. Its geographical limitation to the EMEA is owing to the limitations of the database used, although its frame of reference can be employed to analyze antagonistic threats against transport chains globally. This study is limited by the content of and classifications within the TAPA EMEA IIS database; nevertheless, this database is the best, with most reports originating from the industry (TAPA members anonymously report their losses). Practical implications (if applicable) The research presented in this paper is directly relevant to the current discussion in the EU regarding the creation of a large number of secure parking facilities in the region. This paper’s findings will describe the current cargo theft threats at non-secure parking facilities. What is original/value of paper This is one of the first papers in the field of supply chain risk management to employ actual crime statistics reported by the industry to analyze the occurrence of cargo theft by focusing on the non-secure parking element of the transport chain.
Sponsorship:
The authors thank TAPA EMEA (www.tapaemea.com) for allowing us to use the data in their IIS database for this research. The authors are named alphabetically and answer equally to all matters within this paper.