'Expect an escalation in criminal syndicates'

With the economy
under strain,
the downward
trend in
cargo volumes last year
saw a steep rise in criminal
activity, and more of the
same can be expected for
2016, in the view of Johan
Robinson of Combined Private
Investigations.
“Hijackings in the
Heidelberg area increased by
147% over a 12-month period,”
says Robinson. “The syndicates
are also becoming more
daring and
the groups are
getting larger
and better
organised.
They are also
well armed
and extremely
dangerous.”
Keeping
ahead of the
syndicates is
what CPI is all
about and the
company has
just launched a new container
lock which Robinson says “is
capable of preventing all known
methods used by criminals to
disarm container locks”.
“It works on a twotier
locking system,” says
Robinson. “This is the fourth
generation in six years and it is
also suitable for use on rail.”
Robinson believes that
the new lock,
combined with
a new tracking
unit introduced
by CPI in
2015, will be
a formidable
combination
in combatting
cargo crime.
“We’ve seen
consistent
growth in our
business with
a number of new clients –
including leading brands
in the electronic and liquor
industries – coming on
board,” says Robinson.
“It’s largely to do with track
record – and 2015 was the
company’s sixth consecutive
loss-free year.
“We had four attempted
hijackings of containers secured
by CPI last year, and in all cases
we managed to recover the
containers intact and arrested
seven suspects in the process.
In one of the cases, electronic
goods were being targeted.”
Prevention should always be
the first priority, says Robinson,
who advises shippers to use
transporters with a good track
record.
“They need to have
carefully planned operating
procedures in place and good
driver management systems
– and that starts with the
employment process. Clients
also need to ensure that the
transporters they use have
adequate GIT insurance.
Tracking on the horse and
trailer is also vital coupled
with 24/7 control room
ability.”
For the year ahead,
automation is on the menu
for CPI. “Through the
introduction of tablets
and programmes
that have been
developed
specifically
for us, we’ll
be able to run
a seamless
and paperless
operation,” says
Robinson.
A branch
office opened in
Port Elizabeth in
December and is now
fully operational.
INSERT & CAPTION
The syndicates are
becoming more
daring and the groups
are getting larger and
better organised.
– Johan Robinson