[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 166 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H11162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   STEMMING THE SPREAD OF CARGO THEFT

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, billions and billions of dollars are sapped 
from our economy each year by cargo theft. It is a staggering problem, 
and, at the same time, a problem that really no one is aware of.
  Every day, millions of cargo carrying trucks transport their contents 
across the highways of our districts. And, every day, millions of 
dollars of goods are stolen from these trucks, often times with violent 
results.
  Mr. Speaker, this week I will introduce legislation that will seek to 
address the growing tide of cargo theft in hopes of bringing awareness 
of this problem to the national spotlight.
  With the prevalence of cargo theft today, insurance companies have 
placed a heavy burden on the trucking industry. The costs associated 
with investigation, insurance payments, are only exacerbating what is 
already an industry crisis.
  Typical targets for cargo theft often include shipments of clothing, 
prescription drugs, computers and jewelry. A truckload of computer 
microprocessors can be worth millions of dollars. A single pallet of 
pharmaceuticals, another common target, can be worth upwards of $2 
million dollars, and cargo containers are capable of carrying dozens of 
such pallets.
  The high value-to-volume ratio of these goods has encouraged 
criminals previously involved in drug dealing to move into this area of 
activity, where they run less risk of detection and suffer less severe 
penalties if they are caught. The National Cargo Security Council 
reported that cargo worth $12 billion is stolen in the United States 
every year, and yet the penalties for cargo theft are lower than those 
for selling drugs.
  Cargo thieves employ creative means to prey on cargo carriers and 
have managed to stay one step ahead of authorities. Thieves know what 
they want and where they can find it, striking cargo containers at 
ports and at trains and 18-wheelers.
  Thieves will either roll the dice, stealing containers with unknown 
contents, or they will go as far as camping outside of distribution 
centers. This method is called ``full load truck theft.'' It involves 
monitoring shipments out of distribution centers that are known for 
putting out expensive goods. The thieves will then follow the trucks in 
rental cars waiting for the right time to pounce. This will often occur 
at truck rest stops, where the driver leaves the vehicle. The process 
can amazingly take but a few minutes. These professional criminals are 
usually licensed truck drivers, who can hot wire a truck quickly and 
efficiently.
  The legislation that I have proposed will seek to finally give both 
lawmakers and law enforcement officials the tools they need to combat 
this growing crime. Cargo theft does not receive the attention it 
deserves because very little concrete information exists today 
concerning this problem. There currently is no all-inclusive database 
that collects, contains or processes distinct information and data 
concerning cargo theft. My bill would require the creation of such a 
database that will allow State and local law enforcement officials to 
coordinate reports of cargo theft, helping them prove to lawmakers just 
how severe this problem really is.
  Also, after speaking with officials in my Congressional District, it 
has become clear to me that stricter criminal penalties are needed in 
order to keep criminals from turning to cargo theft. My bill does just 
this, requiring that the United States Sentencing Commission determine 
what sentencing enhancement must be made.
  Finally, this legislation would ensure that cargo theft reports would 
be reflected as a separate category in the Uniform Crime Reporting 
System, the data collection system used by the FBI. Currently no such 
category exists, resulting in ambiguous data and the inability to track 
and monitor trends.
  Mr. Speaker, Members in this Chamber need to be aware of this 
problem, a problem not only specific to the large port cities of this 
country, but a problem specific to all Congressional districts. Flowing 
up and down I-75, through the heart of my district, thieves transport 
goods to and from Miami. Billions of dollars are being sapped from our 
economy, and this body is doing little to stop it. It is time that we 
get aggressive and make our highways safe again for commerce.
  This body must make an example of cargo thieves. We must let them 
know that they will not get away with merely a slap on the hand. And as 
sheriff's departments begin integrating special cargo theft task 
forces, we must arm them with the ability to prosecute criminals with 
stiffer penalties.
  Mr. Speaker, my bill represents a cohesive effort backed by law 
enforcement and industry representatives alike. I urge Members to 
support this bill, in hopes of bringing acknowledgment of this fight 
against cargo theft at the Federal level.
  With links even to terrorism, cargo theft is a problem that has flown 
under our radar screens for far too long. Until we strengthen these 
laws, this 30-year-old crime wave will persist, threatening our ports 
and roads and costing our economy billions of dollars.

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