WCN August 2020

Tree Nut Theft is Back
New crimes mimic sophisticated
methods of tree nut thefts four years ago.
By ROGER A. ISOM | President/CEO, Western Agricultural Processors Association
'Thieves set up call centers
to answer phones as the
“trucking company”, and the
fax/e-mail methods used
are often untraceable.'
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The theft of complete loads of finished product tree
nuts is back. Some four years ago, the tree nut industry
suffered more than 40 cases of theft of loads of California
tree nuts totaling several million dollars. After more than four
years, this past month two loads of finished product almonds
were stolen using the same methods.
Sophisticated “Fictitious Pick-Up” Ring
In 2015 and 2016, loads of almonds, walnuts, pistachios
and even cashews were stolen in the Central Valley by a
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sophisticated crime ring. The method of theft is known as
“fictitious pick-up” and is becoming widespread. Cargo theft
using fictitious pick-up hit the tree nut industry hard with
millions of dollars in losses that year. Unfortunately, it is a
low-risk method of theft with a high potential return. And
because there is a lag time between when the theft has occurred
and when it is determined, it is difficult to investigate
and there is a low risk of apprehension. In addition, under
laws in California, people that are caught will not spend any
time in a state prison, and most likely will be released early
because it is a non-violent crime.
The thieves have stolen identities of legitimate trucking
companies, shipping companies and/or brokers. All of this
information is online at DOT or company websites, even
down to driver names on social media like Facebook. The
thieves will then incorporate this information on to their
own documents and paperwork, and use pre-paid burner
phones which have little to no account information and only
activated long enough to get the load. These phones are also
difficult to trace, and are incorporated right into the shipping
documents.
Thieves set up call centers to answer phones as the
“trucking company”, and the fax/e-mail methods used are
often untraceable. The thieves arrange for the pickup posing
as a legitimate trucking company and have all of the forged
paperwork in order. They take possession of the load, but
unfortunately it never arrives at the intended location. By
that time, it is already too late.
42 West Coast Nut August 2020