ABSTRACT
Air freight’s main reason to exist is to move high-value goods around the world. Given this fact, it is safe to assume that a large proportion of shipments are worth considering as targets for possible theft. Sooner or later, any shipment will either start or end its journey in a vehicle or a warehouse where it is at its most vulnerable. As they say, ‘Cargo at rest is cargo at risk.’ For several decades, certain consignments have been easily targeted by the criminal fraternity and in most cases their task has been made easy by lax security and inside help or tip-offs. The big ‘heists’ often make the news and in some cases have even been the subject of films or TV programmes. Smaller and less sensational robberies continue to occur and although they do not make the headlines, they cost the industry and insurance companies billions every year. A few examples of the more spectacular robberies are as follows.
