The holiday season is a busy time of year for the logistics industry. Truck yards are packed with trailers carrying high-value shipments, and thieves are aware of this. Criminals also know that businesses often reduce staffing and close during the holidays. Loaded trailers are left unattended, making truck yards attractive targets for cargo theft.
Not surprisingly, research proves that the holidays are a popular time for external theft. According to a Verisk CargoNet analysis, theft of cargo tends to peak in late December through early January. Criminals especially target automotive goods like tires and motor oil, as well as alcoholic beverages and electronics. They know these items are in high demand and can be sold quickly on resale marketplaces.
The CargoNet report also found that while sophisticated crime schemes are on the rise, direct theft of trailers and full shipments remains the most prevalent form of truck theft. Criminals look for dropped trailers that they can connect to their own tractor and drive off with.
In general, cargo theft is on the rise, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Most high-value theft is committed by criminal organizations. However, opportunistic thieves also target unattended trucks and trailers. Both groups exploit vulnerabilities like weak perimeter security and poor lighting to make their move.
Why a Secure Perimeter Is Crucial for Guarding Against Holiday Crime
Your truck yard’s perimeter is your critical first line of defense. Ideally, criminals never make it past your perimeter to get near loaded trailers. A robust perimeter requires too much effort or risk to bypass. It should be a deterrent that appears too imposing to even attempt a breach. As a result, a strong perimeter prompts criminals to move on to easier targets.
Organizations within the security industry emphasize the importance of a secure perimeter. For example, the Security Industry Association describes the many ways criminals can gain access to a property with a weak physical barrier. This includes cutting through or climbing over a barrier like a chain-link fence. Truck yards need more than a chain-link fence to effectively keep thieves out.
Meanwhile, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a set of widely adopted security strategies designed to deter crime. According to CPTED principles, perimeter barriers are important parts of “territorial reinforcement.” They create a clear distinction between public and private spaces and serve as a psychological deterrent. A perimeter barrier is also a necessary component of access control.
Criminals often scout properties before they act. If your perimeter has vulnerabilities, you can expect thieves to notice them. That’s why it’s crucial to address perimeter security gaps before the holidays arrive and thieves are ready to strike.
Prevent Holiday Crime With These Six Essential Tips
Whether you manage a trucking company, third-party logistics fleet, or distribution center, crime statistics aren’t just numbers. They pose real threats to your inventory, profitability, and the safety of your employees and customers.
Fortunately, your business doesn’t have to be another number. Use the following tips to prevent holiday theft at your facility:
1. Get a Security Assessment Completed
Strong security begins with knowing your vulnerabilities. Before the holiday rush arrives, work with a perimeter security expert to conduct a risk assessment. They will identify weaknesses and anything that could make it easier for criminals to breach your property, like damaged fencing or inadequately secured gates.
It’s also important to check for hiding spots created by overgrown vegetation or poor lighting. Test all your security equipment, including surveillance cameras and alarm systems, to make sure they are operational.
You’ll also want to research local crime statistics to assess your risk and determine the level of security you need. You can conduct your own research by visiting the sites of organizations like NICB, or let the professionals analyze the crime data for you.
To protect cargo once it leaves the yard, be sure to analyze your routes for recent crime events and encourage drivers to avoid “hot spots.” For example, if you see that several trucks were recently victims of theft at a truck stop along one of your routes, tell your drivers to skip that particular location. Additionally, thieves often wait near shipping facilities to steal cargo when drivers stop. For that reason, NICB recommends drivers not stop within 200 miles of leaving the yard.
2. Secure Your Perimeter
As a stand-alone solution, a chain-link fence will not keep criminals off your property. Thieves know they can quickly cut through a standard fence with a pair of bolt cutters. If external theft has been on the rise or you want to effectively secure your yard, consider investing in an electric fence. Electric fencing keeps criminals from ever setting foot in your truck yard in the first place.
Stop criminals in their tracks with an electric fence that acts as both a visual deterrent and a physical barrier. Most thieves see the fence’s warning signs and decide it’s not worth attempting a breach. If they choose to try anyway, they will receive a safe but memorable pulsed electric shock.
An electric fence must go inside your chain-link fence to comply with safety standards. Therefore, you’ll need to repair any damaged parts of your regular fence before installing an electric one. Once your electric fence is installed, you’ll have a formidable barrier and a chance to enjoy the holidays worry-free.
3. Control Who Has Access to Your Site
Your facility’s gates are a significant weakness, especially during the holidays when traffic increases. Security guards may feel rushed to keep trucks moving and prioritize speed over verifying credentials. This pressure creates the prime opportunity for fictitious pickups, where thieves use fraudulent paperwork to trick staff into handing over cargo. In 2024, CargoNet recorded over 450 fictitious pickup attempts with expectations to surpass the previous year’s numbers.
An automated system can help to drastically reduce human error that leads to fictitious pickups and other forms of deception that occur at the gate. Unlike security guards, an automated access control system does not get tired, distracted, or feel pressured to let drivers through. Instead, it ensures consistent credential verification, granting access only to authorized users every time. These solutions are typically tailored to your security risks. They consist of a motorized gate, credential readers, specialized gate locks, cameras, and other features.
Modern access control systems connect to a centralized platform that maintains a digital log, providing data to investigate suspicious activity. They can also be managed and monitored remotely by security professionals 24/7. With Gate Access Control, you can eliminate the need for full-time security guards on-site. A solution that integrates with your electric fencing creates an all-around impenetrable perimeter.
4. Leverage Monitored Video Surveillance
While cameras are critical for capturing evidence, they are mostly reactive solutions and do not prevent thieves from attempting to access your property. Video surveillance cameras integrated with real-time remote monitoring capabilities take security to the next level. Live footage is sent to security professionals, who can then respond immediately to a threat before any crime happens. This integration of strategically placed cameras and 24/7 remote monitoring is ideal for truck yards in high-risk areas with dual verification requirements.
With any camera you choose, make sure it provides high-resolution video to capture important details. Cameras should also be positioned to capture activity along your entire fence line and in any areas with loaded trailers.
5. Eliminate Darkness With Strategic Lighting
Shorter days during the winter months mean more opportunities to hide in the dark. Criminals love darkness because they feel less likely to get caught. They also know it’s harder for cameras to capture identification details when there is inadequate lighting.
Before you head home for the holidays, make sure you’ve eliminated dark spots in your yard. Focus on adding lighting where criminals are most likely to attempt a breach or theft. This usually means ensuring your perimeter, entry points, and any areas where trailers are parked are well-lit.
There are many types of lighting solutions available to eliminate hiding spots. For example, you can use alarm-based lighting that integrates with an electric fence. Alarm-based lighting options activate when someone attempts to breach the fence, flooding the area with bright light. This helps deter further criminal activity. It also helps video surveillance cameras capture the exact spot of a breach attempt so security professionals know where to look.
6. Train Your Team on Security Protocols
Your entire team plays an important role in safeguarding your facility against holiday-related theft. Schedule time to meet with team members proactively to discuss the increased security risks. Ensure they understand how to identify, report, and document any suspicious activity near or at the facility.
In addition, emphasize the importance of locking access points, moving loaded trailers to secure areas, and removing keys from equipment after use. Lastly, encourage employees to never treat alarms as false.
Secure Your Truck Yard With AMAROK This Holiday Season
From creating a robust perimeter to upgrading your security cameras, there are many ways to enhance your physical security before the holidays. However, finding the time to make these changes during the busiest time of the year can be challenging.
Let AMAROK handle your security needs. We are the industry leader in perimeter security solutions for trucking companies. It all starts with The Electric Guard Dog™ Fence, which stops 99% of external theft for our customers after installation.
Don’t let theft disrupt your operations or your time off this holiday season. Contact us today for a free threat assessment and take the first step to effectively securing your truck yard.
