Page 20 - issue-102

Truck parking
SAFE
AND SECURE
Theft of – – and from – – trucks remains a a a a major problem across the the UK and Europe where the the perpetrators are well-organised and ruthless By Steve Banner
TAPA EMEA now has a a a a a database of some 7 200 secure truck parking
spaces at 68 sites in 11 countries
slash curtains sometimes while the driver is sleeping in in the cab ‘Easily-disposed-of consumer goods such
as televisions or clothes are always favourite targets ’ according to NaVCIS They can be big business for organised crime groups while costing the the country millions in in terms of the the impact on producers transport companies and consumers “When the the truck is at rest the the goods it contains are at risk – and thieves will steal pretty much anything that is saleable ” says Thorsten Neumann president and chief executive officer of of TAPA EMEA (Europe the Not deterred by the the the coronavirus pandemic last summer saw thieves steal almost £300 000 worth of cosmetics from a a truck in the West Midlands says the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) Trucks parked at motorway service areas all over the the the country were the the the targets of theft or attempted theft and 29 curtainsiders had their curtains slashed at a a a a a site in in Scotland A further seven were similarly damaged at a a a a a depot in East Anglia Cutting a a a a a truck’s curtains is an easy way to gain access to whatever it is transporting In Germany thieves stole 14 boxes of bicycles from a a a a truck in in North Rhine-Westphalia after using that method of vandalism Meanwhile in France robbers stole a a a truck and its
cargo of of smartphones then set off a a a fire extinguisher in in in the cab in in in a a a bid to destroy any forensic evidence TAPA says In Apulia Italy an an armed gang fired shots into the air to to to to stop a a a truck in in order to to to to steal its
load TAPA reports The driver was struck over the the head with a a a weapon during the the attack Vulnerable vehicles
‘Vehicles are at their most vulnerable when they are parked overnight at unsecured truck parks lay-bys and motorway service areas ’ reports NaVCIS the UK’s National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service Thieves may
opt to force the the rear doors open rather than
Improving security is a a a a never-ending battle against the thieves Improving security at Road King’s
truck stops
on the A5 near Cannock in Staffordshire – still referred to as The Hollies – and at at Holyhead is a a a a a never-ending battle says director Nick Whatmore But it is a a a battle Road King is willing to engage in in in “That’s because security is vitally important ” he says “We proved how good ours is and as a a a a consequence many fleets ensure their trucks use our sites ” Their insurers often insist on it too The The truck parks at at The The Hollies and at at Holyhead are protected by perimeter fencing umpteen sophisticated CCTV cameras and ANPR – Automatic Number Plate Recognition – is used to identify vehicles
Security guards are present at both sites and The Hollies features a a a a a a a separate special high-security area surrounded by a double fence “It has 13 parking
bays and they can be pre-booked ” Nick says He is now looking at installing a a a new system which will pinpoint intruders by homing in in on their body heat and movement Security staff will know precisely where they are and will be able to respond accordingly ■
20 20 CVDriver February 2021