If there’s one talking point everyone in the freight community can agree on, it’s that cargo theft is on the rise. More crimes are occurring, more losses are being reported, and more inventive modes of attack (like double brokering) are emerging. While this is a global issue, Europe in particular is at risk; road thefts in the EU grew by 35% in 2023, with road transport accounting for 71% of cargo thefts.

But one European country is experiencing more incidents than most: Germany.

Germany reported the most cargo thefts out of all European countries in 2023, with a grand total of 2,498. For context, that’s more than double the next-worst country on the list — France, with 1,046 thefts. One in six truck drivers in Germany has been a victim of theft, and news bulletins of heavy losses — like the €700,000 worth of tools which were stolen from a Rottweil facility in July last year — are becoming increasingly common.

So, with a truckload of cargo being stolen every 20 minutes in Germany (according to DHL), the question is… what makes Germany such a hot spot for cargo theft?

Why cargo criminals are targeting Germany

General consensus suggests that prolonged levels of inflation (and therefore higher prices for scarce goods) has been the main driver behind the rise in global cargo crime. But there are a few reasons why Germany seems to be getting targeted in particular:

• High-volume trade routes: Germany is the world’s 3rd biggest exporter. With higher volumes of trade, security resources throughout the region are more likely to be stretched, making it easier for criminals to commit a theft.
• Densely populated regions: It’s a universal theory that denser populations correlate with higher crime rates. Germany ranks 19th in the world for population density, and cargo crimes tend to occur in its urban regions.
• A strong logistical presence: More trade means more cargo, more warehouses, and more facilities… all of which mean more vulnerabilities for criminals to exploit.
• Better reporting systems: It’s worth noting that Germany has a strong infrastructure for reporting incidents compared with other countries around the world, therefore its theft figures are naturally likely to be higher, which may skew the comparative data.

What are the most common types of cargo crime in Germany?

As is common in Europe, one of the most consistent methods of attack seen in Germany is ‘slash and grab’ thefts. Interestingly, while such thefts only made up around 3% of global cargo theft incidents in 2023, more than half of these occurred in Germany — a disparity which can be explained by Europe’s preference for soft-sided trailers.

Another growing threat in Germany is the prevalence of Organised Crime Groups (OCGs), which are notorious for attacking key logistics routes. One example is the A-1 motorway between Bremen and Hamburg, which saw 67 trucks targeted by thieves in a single day back in 2023. As well as being highly organised, these OCGs have the resources to move rapidly while stealing large quantities of cargo. This makes it harder to predict where they will strike next, further reducing the risk of them being caught.

Germany also frequently comes out on top for incidents such as vehicle hijacking, warehouse thefts, and driver-related theft. As well as this, the malicious use of technology is becoming more prevalent too; digital cargo fraud, GPS jamming, fictitious pickups, and stolen identities are all being leveraged by criminals.

Not all cargo criminals in Germany go unpunished, however. In 2021, Romanian, German and French authorities worked together to detain 34 suspects from an OCG that had stolen an estimated €1.3 million worth of goods. More recently, a driver who won a transport order to Germany via a digital freight exchange was found to be operating with a false identity card, a false driving licence, and false number plates.

Risk mitigation: how supply chain businesses can protect their bottom lines 

Relying on law enforcement isn’t the only option available to you when it comes to protecting your cargo. There’s a number of actions you can take to proactively look after your bottom line…

• Following best practices: Sometimes, the simplest tactics can be the most effective. Using secure parking areas, real-time tracking and stronger security measures are all proven methods for deterring cargo criminals.
• Improving cargo integrity: Ensuring cargo integrity standards are upheld, through correct packing, lashing and documentation can significantly reduce the risk of cargo theft occurring or going unnoticed.
• Getting the right coverage: For decades, Europe has relied on CMR (or the ‘Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road’) as a form of carrier liability insurance. But, in today’s freight market, CMR has considerable limitations. As an alternative, on-demand cargo insurance products like Loadsure’s Thames™ offer all-risk cover on an affordable per-load basis.
• Investing in cybersecurity: Cargo theft doesn’t always mean physically stealing your goods. Make sure you’re investing sufficient resources in cyber security measures that will protect your systems from digital cargo fraud, GPS jamming and other online exploits that today’s criminals can leverage.
• Doing your research: Another important step is undertaking thorough due diligence checks on any carriers or third parties. Ensuring that you’re working with verified and trustworthy businesses is a simple way to reduce your exposure to confidence tactics like fictitious pickups or double brokering.

Prolific risk requires holistic protection

In short, the risk of cargo theft in Germany is prolific. And, as the European supply chain continues to be disrupted by external factors like extreme weather events and volatile geopolitics, its trade routes are only going to become a more lucrative target for cargo criminals.

This all points to the clear market need for an entirely new category of risk management in Germany and Europe: Holistic Freight Protection. Conceived by Loadsure, this  approach combines proactive risk management insights with accurately-priced cargo insurance products, and transparent, automated claims to expedite loss recovery.

For more information about Holistic Freight Protection or any of our products, get in touch with our dedicated European team by completing the form below.