Nearly $111M in data center freight stolen as thieves test ‘bump and run’ tactic
Scott Cornell explains why compromised drivers made the tactic work and how stronger carrier verification could have stopped it. The post Nearly $111M in data center freight stolen as thieves test ‘bump and run’ tactic appeared first on FreightWaves .
Nearly $110.6 million in high-value data center equipment and technology cargo has been stolen in the United States through a "bump and run" tactic, according to Scott Cornell, EVP and Crime and Theft Specialist at SPG Cargo & Logistics. The thefts involved security escorts, which were deliberately crashed into by thieves to escape capture.
Cornell estimated the losses at nearly $111 million since June 3. The stolen shipments included data center equipment and other high-value technology cargo, with individual cases ranging from $2 million to $38 million. The tactic required the cooperation of each shipment's driver, who failed to stop and call for help after being bumped.
Thieves exploited flaws in carrier verification, using compromised operators to continue after each collision. Cornell emphasized the importance of proper verification, including secure digital bills of lading, to prevent such thefts. The criminals can relabel stolen goods and use cross-docks and altered shipping documents to move the stolen products through established distribution networks quickly, making it difficult for investigators to locate the missing freight.
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