A recent study points out that cargo robbery increased 1.7% in 2021. This is the first increase since 2017. 14,400 robberies were registered in 2021 compared to 14,150 in 2020. The financial loss amounts up to R$ 1.7 billion. An increase of more than R$ 200,000 compared to 2020. As in previous years, the Southeast region leads the number of cargo thefts in Brazil, with over 80% of the occurrences. Among the cities, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo continue to show the highest rates.
Generally speaking, when we analyze the data of the last five years we can perceive a downward trend.
ANNUAL EVOLUTION – INCIDENTS
ANNUAL EVOLUTION – AMOUNT (IN R$)
The increase can be explained by the return of economic activities in the country after the most critical period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Which led to an rise in the number of cargo transport operations on the highways. In addition, with high inflation, due to internal and external factors, certain products became even more attractive to criminal groups.
SOUTHEAST REPRESENTS MORE THAN 80% OF CASES
The region with the most cases was the Southeast, with 82.66% of the cases; there were 11,932 occurrences. Then comes the South region with 6.82%, followed by the Northeast with 5.44%, the Midwest with 3.66% and the North with 1.42%. The State of São Paulo leads the ranking, with 45.23% of notifications. Then comes Rio de Janeiro, with 31.32% of the total.
DISTRIBUTION PER REGION
MOST TARGETED
According to the study by NTC&Logística, the most targeted goods are food, fuel, pharmaceuticals, auto parts, materials from the textile and apparel sector, cigarettes, electronics, beverages and pesticides.
DOWNWARD TREND
The sector has been working with the Federal Highway Police (PRF) to expand efforts to combat cargo theft across the country. According to the PRF, in 2020 Operation Tamoio avoided losses of more than R$ 1 billion. The PRF has also been carrying out guidance work with truck drivers, seeking to avoid the exposure of these professionals to risky situations. One of the solutions found by companies to combat is the implementation of vehicle monitoring and tracking.
