• 58,000 freight thefts reported by Transported Asset Protection Association across 101 countries in the Europe and UK region in 18 months leading up to June 2026.
• Methods are changing as organised criminal groups using different methods to threaten the supply chain, including road feeder systems.

Cargo theft across the UK and Europe is moving beyond opportunistic crime. Organised criminal groups are increasingly using intelligence, fraud and technology to identify and target valuable loads.

In the 18 months to 30 June 2026, the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) EMEA recorded more than 58,000 freight thefts across 101 countries in the region. Only 7.8 percent of reported crimes included a loss value, yet those incidents alone represented more than €1.02 billion of goods targeted and stolen. That is an average of over €1.8 million every 24 hours.

Speaking to secure parking and payments provider SNAP, TAPA said criminal networks are operating with increasing organisation. Specialist groups handle intelligence gathering, surveillance, theft, transportation, storage and resale of stolen goods.

New methods, old risks

Curtain slashing and theft from unsecured parking areas remain a threat. However, criminals are also turning to fake carriers, identity theft, fictitious collections, document fraud and cyber-enabled attacks.

Booking systems, cargo data, social media and commercially sensitive information are being exploited to identify valuable shipments before they move. Pharmaceuticals, electronics, food, alcohol, tobacco and vehicle parts are among the high-demand commodities being deliberately targeted.

Despite this growing sophistication, one of the biggest vulnerabilities is simpler: where a vehicle stops. TAPA warns that “Freight at Rest is Freight at Risk”, with most thefts occurring while vehicles are parked for mandatory rest breaks, overnight stops or unexpected delays.

Parking shortfall

A shortage of suitable stopping locations compounds the problem. According to the European Commission, the EU is short of 390,057 safe and secure parking spaces for professional drivers, a gap projected to reach 483,000 by 2040.

Operators across mainland Europe increasingly have access to TAPA Parking Security Requirements (PSR)-certified facilities. TAPA says the UK, by contrast, still has relatively few independently certified secure truck parks. This can leave drivers reliant on motorway service areas, industrial estates and other unsecured locations that attract organised criminals.

TAPA said secure parking goes beyond CCTV or perimeter fencing. It combines physical infrastructure with controlled access, surveillance, active management, lighting, trained personnel, documented procedures and incident response. Standards such as TAPA PSR and ESPORG assess these wider measures and provide independent assurance.

Planning ahead

SNAP said better access to secure parking, and the ability to plan stops in advance, can help reduce exposure to cargo crime. Digital booking gives greater confidence that a space will be available on arrival, making it less likely that drivers are forced into unsecured locations when secure sites are full. Technologies such as ANPR can help validate drivers and vehicles so only authorised users enter participating sites.

Cargo crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated, but one of the fundamental risks remains incredibly simple: where a vehicle stops. Drivers have to take legally required breaks, and they should be able to do that somewhere that protects both them and the load they are carrying. Secure parking therefore needs to be considered as part of journey planning from the outset, particularly when transporting high-value or high-risk goods. Technology can help fleets plan ahead, secure appropriate parking and make better use of the infrastructure already available across Europe. But ultimately, tackling cargo crime requires collaboration across the entire industry,” said Nick Long, head of UK commercial at SNAP.

Closing Europe’s secure parking gap will require continued investment, improvements to existing facilities, recognised security standards, and closer collaboration between governments, local authorities, parking providers, transport operators, insurers and industry associations.

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