The theft of lorry loads at warehouses, rest stops or in transit has now reached such epidemic proportions that a better-funded national intelligence unit is a must.
The recent, well-planned heist of £4 million worth of Samsung mobile telephones from a warehouse in Hayes, Middlesex has also served to highlight that the police service’s response to such robberies needs to be equally well-organised and co-ordinated.

DC Iain McKinnon, the officer currently in charge of the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk, told Security Management Today: “Organised criminal gangs are targeting high value goods like computers. Last year alone we logged more than 3,500 incidents, which is over 50% higher than the figure recorded in 2000.”

McKinnon added that good quality information and intelligence is vital in the fight against lorry load crime. Without it, the police could not target their limited resources.

Recent recoveries by the police have included £250,000 worth of Compaq palmtop computers, £450,000 of Hugo Boss fashionwear and £320,000 of brand new IKEA goods.