Hauliers – Specialist vehicle crime police have urged you to be on guard after criminal gangs have tricked several unsuspecting firms into handing over their loads.
Bogus hauliers are using haulage exchanges and false details/paperwork to steal trailer loads of goods before they get to the delivery location, according to the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS).
Officers have issued some guidance to help you prevent the thefts.
They urge you do your due diligence when dealing with new companies and ensure the following:
Validate of the company’s office and street address
Find out how long they’ve been there
Look up their insurance policy coverage and cross reference
Look at their company ownership history
Study their website for inconsistencies
Consider meeting the owners at their offices
Verify landline number matches their website
Verify their email address matches email domains on their website
Don’t rely on mobile numbers for authenticity
On the day:
Consider CCTV or taking a photo of the driver collecting the load
Phone the firm’s landline to confirm the driver’s identity
Find out more about the work NaVCIS does to reduce vehicle crime.
