Walters has good reason to be suspicious. Theft of high-tech goods in particular has skyrocketed just this decade, putting more pressure than ever on air cargo operators because the products are a staple of the industry. From the insurance industry s point of view, cargo theft is a major problem, whether we re talking about clothing, consumer electronics or jewelry. Edward Badolato, the NCSC s chairman, points to several reasons behind the explosion in cargo theft. Today, more and more cargo is being shipped by air, which presents a new set of technological problems to ensure that security systems are commensurate with the increased speed of service.
Air carriers are really at risk.
It s like the fox going to work in the hen house. Experts say cargo theft is a moving target. As shipper s improve security at their facilities, cargo thieves move on to airline, forwarder or trucking company warehouses. As those become more tightly protected, cargo in transit is targeted more aggressively. Virtually anyone involved in the movement of high-tech goods is vulnerable to attack.