Lorry drivers facing £8billion theft bill over 25 years - with alcohol and tobacco targeted

Thefts from is expected to cost the UK logistics industry at least a massive £6.1 billion by 2049 - but could even be as high as almost £8bn.

Research by Snap, a security solutions provider to the haulage industry, said of consumer goods and from lorries has been on the increase in recent years. In particular, criminals are taking advantage of to target goods such as alcohol and tobacco as well as expensive foods and beauty products.

Thieves will either steal from parked lorries or even when they are moving. Known as a 'rollover', criminals will jump onto the back of a HGV then empty its goods into another vehicle. The Road Haulage Association said the estimated cost to the economy exceeded £420 million last year.

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Meanwhile, the National Freight and Cargo Crime Analysis yearly report said the number of reports of HGV and cargo crime in 2023 was 5,373 - but actual figures are likely to be much higher. This equated to a loss of £68.3m wholesale value in stolen goods, but authorities put that figure at an estimated true retail value of between £680 to £700m.

Calculations by Snap, based on RHA estimates, show the total cost to the industry could be even more than they thought and go up to £7.9bn over the next 25 years when taking rising inflation into account. Next month, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freight and Logistics is expected to release a report for government on the steps needed to tackle the problem.

Matthew Bellamy, managing director at Snap, said: “There is an urgent need for investments in the safety and security of truck parks across the UK and Europe. Truck drivers are the lifeblood of our economies and ensure that the public gets what they need.

"We need to encourage more people into the industry by offering a safe and secure environment for all. This highlights the need to protect drivers’ wellbeing, keeping them physically and mentally safe, alongside the financial benefits for supply chain operators and improved services for the nation.”