Imperial Logistics’ contribution to fighting truck hijackings, vehicle theft and other related crimes in the transport industry has been recognised by the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI). At the recent 65th International Annual Training Seminar, the supply chain and logistics’ leader was presented with the “Vehicle Crime Combating Award”.
“The Imperial Logistics’ investigation team comprises five members who boast more than 100 years of combined experience in the field of vehicle related crime. This is reflected in their exceptional success in terms of vehicles recovered and criminal convictions secured,” says Imperial Logistics chief strategy officer Cobus Rossouw. “During the 2016 book year, this division investigated 86 cases of truck hijackings with a value of more than R134 million. Imperial Logistics successfully recovered more than ninety percent worth of truck, trailers and vehicles,” he reports.
Imperial Logistics also investigated a further eight cases of vehicle theft to the total value of R10.5 million, and achieved a 100% success rate. “We successfully recovered all these vehicles. The investigations team attained an outstanding 89% success rate on the recovery of its vehicles, trailers and other vehicles”.
The members of the Imperial Logistics investigations team are on standby 24 hours a day, to help companies in the group and their clients with investigations. The Imperial investigators work closely with other industry role players, including vehicle tracking companies and their recovery teams, and private investigators operating in the transport industry. “We also liaise on a regular basis with law enforcement agencies like the SAP Provincial Investigation Unit – the HAWKS, SARS Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), INTERPOL and Border Police,” states Rossouw.
The vast experience and expertise of the investigations team also means that members are regularly called upon to testify in various criminal courts in Southern Africa.
“The successes that led to Imperial Logistics winning this prestigious IAATI SAB award were only possible because of the good working relationships that our investigations team has forged with various role players in the industry, and an extensive network of informants and contacts. IAATI played a significant role in helping us to build this comprehensive contact network, and we are honoured to have the highest accolade for vehicle crime fighting,” Rossouw concludes.
IAATI is a non-profit organisation formed to provide professional training, education and support to assist professionals involved in the detection, investigation and reduction of vehicle theft. The association was established in America in 1952 and currently has over 3 500 professional members in 71 countries. The Southern African branch was established in 1990. Membership consists of representatives from police services (investigators, analysts, and forensic staff), insurers, private investigators, vehicle registration authorities, vehicle manufacturers and others with a legitimate interest in vehicle theft investigation, prevention and education.