National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

4.3.7 Conclusion
As a result of shoplifting the financial loss suffered by retail businesses is
considerable. Shoplifting is perceived as threatening by staff, even though the
personal living environment is harmed to a lesser extent compared, for example,
to domestic burglaries. Small shops can get into significant problems if they lose
a large part of their inventory. Although the trend has been downward for
several years, this may change in the next couple of years. Whether that will lead
to an increase in shoplifting in the next four years is rather uncertain. Shoplifting
has therefore been qualified as a conditional threat. Conditions affecting the
development of shoplifting include increased unemployment, increased mobility,
political instability in the Balkans, and lasting differences in prosperity between
Western and Eastern Europe.
4.4 Cargo theft
4.4.1 Introduction and scope
In NTA 2004 cargo theft was a research subject. At the time this offence was
designated as a threat to Dutch society. Now, in 2008, the phenomenon is once
again on the agenda. In the intervening four years, the feeling of urgency with
regard to the fight against cargo theft appears to have grown. Recently, for
example, the media focussed on the successful use of ‘decoy cars’, but secure
parking places for lorry drivers is another measure to reduce cargo theft. This
does not mean, however, that cargo theft is no longer a regular offence. The
definition of cargo theft used here is that used by the National Transport Crime
Team: theft of goods that are present in the logistical chain of transport from
one location to another. Locations for storage, transhipment and distribution
are also part of the logistical chain.
4.4.2 General context
Cargo theft can take on many different forms. Cargo thieves often know
exactly where and when to strike. According to experts inside knowledge is
used in most cases of large-scale theft of commercial goods. According to the
Dutch Transport Operators Association (TLN), the ratio of thefts with insider
involvement compared to other thefts is around 80:20.
Investigations show that commercial goods are currently stolen more and more
often during transport, as the security level of warehouses is increasing.
Transport rather than storage is clearly a weak link in the production chain.
152 National Threat Assessment 2008 – Organised crime