ABSTRACT
The overall law enforcement response to cargo thefts in most circumstances has been underwhelming for many reasons. Obviously, unsatisfactory response is not the case in every jurisdiction because some task forces actively react to and investigate such crimes. Some of the problem relates to crimereporting issues. Most states do not have specific statutes covering cargo theft and adjudication can vary depending on how a crime is reported. If cargo is stolen along with a tractor and trailer, the incident is treated as a commercial vehicle theft offense and the cargo in the trailer is a supplement to the vehicle crime. When a tractor and trailer are recovered, cargo becomes an afterthought. Vehicle detectives are not always trained to deal with issues beyond the vehicles and may not understand the cargo losses involved in the equation.
