HOW TO AVOID THEFT OF CARGO TRANSPORTATION IN COVID-19 TIMES?

Several security specialists pointed out that in the face of the health emergency due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), cargo transportation is at risk due to the possible increase in highway robberies due to the low vehicle capacity on the roads that will be declared by the phase 3 declaration of the pandemic, therefore, issued some recommendations to mitigate the impact of this crime.

Data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP) indicate that in March 2020 there were 764 thefts from carriers, 7.60% more than a previous month, when there were 710, although 31.47% less than in March 2019, when in that month there were 1,115 assaults.

"If the necessary protocols are not generated in this phase 3 of the pandemic, it is expected that there may be an increase of up to 50% in the theft of cargo transportation," according to Raúl Sapién Santos, President of the National Private Security Council , quoted in a press release from Grupo Innovazione, an insurance company.

For its part, the National Association of Vehicle Tracking and Protection Companies (ANERPV) estimated in recent days that theft of cargo transport can increase by about 30% between April and May 2020, due to the insecurity caused by the demand for basic products and the trend that has been detected of this crime among its members in recent years.

Meanwhile, as T21 reported since last February, information from the SensiGuard Supply Chain Intelligence Center, indicated that this year cargo theft is expected to be an average of 1,300 thefts per month, although the agency recognized that they will be increasingly more violent. Given this panorama, Grupo Innovazione recommended that carriers carry out measures of <strong> internal actions, en route, in rest areas and stays in other facilities, as well as self-care for operators. Internal measures are: to train operational and administrative personnel in security protocols; maintain communication with operators at all times, have telemetry services, as well as distraction and fatigue sensors to vehicles. It also helps that units have high security seals or padlocks; draw up a contingency plan en route, supervision of drivers, modify routes if there has been a previous criminal incident and carry out communication campaigns in areas identified as high risk. On the road, Grupo Innovazione recommended: establish alternative routes in case they have to change unexpectedly; redouble efforts in monitoring on routes identified as dangerous; Periodically rehearse emergency response protocols.

 For parked vehicles, the advice is: establish the use of safe stops as an internal policy and expand the options; provide the operator with information on the permitted whereabouts; rely on other entities such as the Federal Police and the National Guard. To the operators, the firm recommended: having a catalog of telephone numbers in case of emergency, training to know how to react in the event of an assault and constant communication with the operations center.

SensiGuard recommended that operators be alert in risk areas and where there is loss of signal; to provide information on any risk situation such as suspicious vehicles and people; that the operations are carried out during the day, that the companies generate a security program aimed at crime prevention, and that the vehicles are in optimal mechanical conditions.

For his part, Quálitas recalled that it is also important to keep insurance policies up to date and announced that for his policyholders he had the National Cabin, a call center for road assistance at 800 800 2880.

“Having a vehicle policy in these times is not a luxury. Although there are fewer cars in the cities, it is when drivers are most confident, and incidents can occur that cause the loss of your assets, "said Blanca Velázquez, Metropolitan Director of Quálitas.

Source: T21