During 2022 Risk Intelligence identified 14 cargo theft and 1 activism hotspot area in Europe where there was a spike in incidents or a temporary elevated threat, higher than the national average in the country concerned. As of the time of writing, 13 hotspots are still active (the threat remains).

Cargo theft hotspots are primarily located in major cities and along major transportation routes. The major threats include traditional cargo theft incidents taking place at non-secure parking areas overnight but also last mile delivery hotspots in cities such as Barcelona or violent robbery/hijack around Lyon

TOTAL: 13 European higher threat areas where supply chain threats are consistently higher than the national average.

High Threat areas are primarily located in major cities, such as Berlin, Brussels, London and Paris and in logistics/manufacturing hubs close to the Channel ports. The major threats include traditional cargo theft incidents taking place at non-secure parking areas overnight.

TOTAL: 284 significant European activism/protest incidents causing potential disruption, up from 95 last year

Climate activism: Climate activist protesters continued to cause major disruptions of main traffic routes across Europe. Motorways in the United Kingdom and Germany were particularly affected. This trend is likely to continue whilst climate change remains high on the political and societal agenda globally.

TOTAL: 170 European violent cargo theft incidents in 2022

Incidents by type for 2022:

Hijacking: 1
Robbery 116
Robbery/Hijacking: 4
Failed Robbery: 45
Failed Robbery/Hijacking: 4

Total: 170

The UK, Italy and Germany recorded the highest number of incidents. The violent cargo theft hotspot area in southern Italy (Campania-Puglia) is still extant with this area accounting for most robbery/hijack incidents in Italy. Whilst organised crime remains a part of the pattern of life in this area this trend is likely to continue.

TOTAL: 2,313 European cargo & fuel theft incidents in 2022

Countries with the most incidents:

• Germany 1,053

• UK 375

• France 217

• Spain 160

• Italy 134

Incidents include thefts of fuel and cargo from vehicles, facilities, trailers, containers and complete thefts of trucks. This figure also includes theft attempts (422), which although unsuccessful still highlight the capability and intent of criminal cargo theft gangs.

Theft attempts often result in damage to trucks, trailers or facilities, so even if goods are not stolen or are subsequently recovered these incidents still involve loss through damages for the operator. Germany recorded by far the greatest numbers, followed by the UK and then France.

Cargo theft incidents and other threats of all kinds posed a continuous threat to European supply chains in 2022. Risk Intelligence have recorded over 3,000 incidents in Europe (including theft attempts) where we have been able to report what happened and provide an accurate location regarding where the crime took place.

These incidents involve cargo theft or other threats to the supply chain, significant protests, terrorist attacks etc., and have all been logged on LandRisk Logistics with verified information, accurate location, images, incident analysis and supporting details.