(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A CAMPAIGN to tackle theft from lorries has been launched to protect goods and drivers.
The campaign, led by the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) in partnership with the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), will focus on HGV crime hotspots across the region.
Organised criminal gangs frequently target goods vehicles while they are parked, often cutting through curtain sides or forcing open rear doors during drivers’ rest breaks.
Detective Superintendent Al Burns, of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "While we’re aware that organised criminal groups target heavy goods vehicles to steal valuable goods throughout the year, we know that the weeks and months leading up to Christmas is a key time where thieves think there will be rich pickings for them.
"We have had some notable successes targeting these gangs through an intelligence-led approach and, while that work is continuing, we have launched this campaign to raise awareness and share crime prevention information among the HGV driver community at key locations in the region."
As part of the campaign, officers will host driver engagement evenings at key transport network locations and increase both overt and covert policing activity at HGV parking sites.
A partnership event was held at West Yorkshire Police’s Carr Gate complex in Wakefield to launch the campaign.
A public engagement event also took place at Xscape in Castleford to raise awareness among road users along the M62 corridor.
In August, an operation led by the YHROCU Regional Intelligence Unit resulted in six arrests during raids in Leeds, part of a national investigation into cargo theft from HGVs.
Officers recovered suspected stolen goods, controlled drugs, and weapons during the raids, including a stun gun.
Those arrested remain on bail while enquiries continue.
Mr Burns said: "Organised theft from heavy goods vehicles is a significant issue nationally, with an average of nine offences per day amounting to a total cost of £65 million last year.
"The wider impact includes the trauma caused to drivers who confront the thieves, as well as damage to vehicles, replacement transport, missed deliveries, insurance costs, and disruption to supply chains, with customers often facing higher prices as a result."
Nigel Collins, intelligence lead for freight at NaVCIS, said: "Our partnership with the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit (YHROCU) and the Opal Supply Chain Crime Intelligence Desk is instrumental in tackling the organised criminal groups targeting heavy goods vehicles in the region."