In January 1990, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) started a new cargo theft investigative unit named Cargo CATs, shorthand for Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team.  The team is part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Major Crimes Bureau.  The mission of the Cargo CATs is to reduce cargo theft crimes by apprehending and prosecuting both cargo thieves and their receivers and by returning stolen property to their rightful owners. The mission involves enhancing coordination and cooperation among local, state, federal law enforcement agencies and representatives from the private sector.

The pro-active approach the Sheriff’s Department has taken in the past with multi-jurisdictional programs to impact the transient career criminal is the same approach that is now being applied to the ever-increasing cargo theft problem throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California by Cargo CATs as a department team.

Straight Cargo Theft:   Trailers or chassis/containers laden with cargo are stolen from a location such as warehouse, on the street, drop lot, or at a truck stop.

Fraud:   Thieves use fraud and other deceptive means to conduct thefts.  They may pretend to be legitimate carriers and conduct fictitious pick-ups by utilizing identities of victim business. Or they may pretend to be legitimate carriers and conduct double brokering scams or do hybrids of the two.  They may generate false load postings to solicit bids to obtain information they need to steal an identified load.

Pilferage:   Thieves target trailers or chassis/containers by stealing part of the cargo from the vehicle while parked or in transit.

If this is an emergency, call 911.

Report cargo thefts to the local law enforcement agency which has jurisdiction over the investigation.  This usually involves contacting the local police or sheriff’s station and reporting the theft.  From there, a police officer or deputy sheriff will make a report and an investigator will be assigned the case.

Note: Many police agencies will not take reports over the phone.  If the broker was defrauded, the broker may have the warehouse workers make the police report in person as they too are victims in the fraud/fictitious-pick up.

To report a cargo theft within a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol area, contact the local sheriff’s patrol station – https://lasd.org/stations/.

If the crime occurred outside of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol area, but the cargo is currently in our patrol area, immediately notify the local sheriff’s patrol station of the situation.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Cargo CATs section, is one of the two major cargo investigative units in the Los Angeles County area.  The other, being The Los Angeles Police Department – Commercial Crimes Division, who investigates cargo thefts within the City of Los Angeles – https://www.lapdonline.org/office-of-the-chief-of-police/office-of-special-operations/detective-bureau/detective-services-group/commercial-crimes-division/.

The California Highway Patrol – Cargo Theft Interdiction Program (CTIP), is a statewide investigative unit which investigates cargo thefts throughout California – https://www.chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/cargo-theft-interdiction-program/.

List of Local Law Enforcement Locations in California – Local Law Enforcement Locations | Local Law Enforcement Locations | ArcGIS Hub

To anonymously report a crime, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or by visiting lacrimestopperes.org.

If this is an emergency, call 9 1 1. Or contact your local Sheriff’s Station or police department. To anonymously report a crime, call Los Angeles-Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or by visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

Here are downloadable and printable information on cargo theft and terminology.

CargoNet: provides a layered approach to cargo security with both proactive and reactive deterrence, extensive recovery assistance, coordinated theft communications, and collaborate with law enforcement across the country.

Visit CargoNet for more info: https://www.cargonet.com/join-cargonet/

The Southwest Transportation Security Council (SWTSC): formed to promote a partnership among Transportation Security Management groups and law enforcement to enhance communication and cooperation with a focus on transportation security and cargo theft in Texas and the Southwest area of the United States.

Visit WSCTA for more info: http://www.swtsc.com/

The Western States Cargo Theft Association: WSCTA was developed to promote methods of training and communication to improve security in the field of transportation. By collecting and publishing educational and statistical materials to further programs for the prevention of theft related losses. Develop and promote security standards and goals.

Visit WSCTA for more info: http://wscta.com/