Goods in Transit or Sitting Ducks?

Robberies from vehicles transporting easily saleable goods such as cigarettes, alcohol and other consumer goods continues to increase and is a national problem. The loads are often in transit to retail units and often poorly protected.

Offenders can follow targeted vehicles for many miles and may work in groups of several vehicles to create the conditions to allow them to make their move on the victim vehicle. Often a non-descript van will form part of the group allowing them to make off with the maximum haul.

Drivers should be aware when stopping for fuel, rest and meal breaks that they could be being observed and should take all the basic precautions to keep the vehicle secured at all times.

Companies should train their drivers to be alert to suspicious vehicles that may be following them, particularly carrying groups of people. If the vehicle behind appears to be a potential threat then the following actions should be taken:

Make several unscheduled turns off the planned route and circle back on yourself, if the vehicle remains behind then it is fairly certain you have become a target. Doing this may alert the pursuing vehicle that you are on to them and make them choose another target.

Contact your control office or transport manager and let them know of the potential threat and give them your location and the registration number, make and colour of the vehicle following and get colleagues to notify the police providing much detail as possible.

Drive into a busy area where the offenders are unlikely to make their move, donÂ’t be afraid to drive in to a busy goods yard, retail park or even tyre centre, they are likely to be supportive and understanding. Remember to update the police with your new location and the threat level status. If the police receive multiple reports of predator vehicles they are likely to follow-up the registration and visit the keeperÂ’s address.


Criminals can become violent to drivers to gain access to the load, if padlocked they will be after the keys. If a barrier security seal is in use the offenders would need to be prepared and carry a suitable tool to remove the seal, in which case they are less likely to attack the driver. Driving around in a car or van tooled-up to open barrier seals is a risk and attracts attention should the offenderÂ’s vehicle be stopped by the police.

Barrier seals are security seals that cannot be broken by hand and so offer a good defence against opportunistic theft. A barrier seal prevents any access to the goods in transit without the necessary tools to remove it. To avoid risks to the driver, cutters for seal removal should not be carried in the cab but held securely at the receiving depot or store and removed under security supervision. If the delivery is to an unrelated site then an image of the seal should be e-mailed ahead of the consignment. This is now so easy to do using a smart phone and prevents seal substitution.