However, the state experienced a 9 percent year-over-year drop in reported cargo thefts during the quarter to 2,152 incidents.
Cargo theft has increased in Brazil over the past few years and in the midst of an economic crisis and a strong U.S. dollar, exports have been a prime target over the past few months, according to FreightWatch International Supply Chain Intelligence Center’s Brazil Cargo Theft Report for the first quarter of 2016.
The states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, located in southern Brazil, had the highest amount of reported cargo thefts in the country during the quarter. Combined, they account for approximately 80 percent of Brazil’s reported cargo thefts.
During the quarter, a total of 2,152 cargo thefts were reported in the state of São Paulo, a 9 percent decline from the corresponding period in 2015.
Within the state, reported cargo thefts were most prominent in the capital (the city of São Paulo), greater São Paulo and Campinas, but all three regions experienced year-over-year declines in reported incidents, as cargo theft has been migrating from those areas to Santos, São José dos Campos and Ribeirão Preto.
Meanwhile, in that state of Rio de Janeiro, reported cargo thefts for the quarter rose 11 percent from the first quarter of 2015 to 1,988 reported incidents.
Within the state, the highest number of reported incidents have been occurring in the capital (the city of Rio de Janeiro). However, theft in the capital city has declined as a result of joint measures taken by different police units and the intensification of cargo theft combat operations.
Thefts within the state are migrating from the capital to the Niteroi and Lake Region, and the Fluminese Lowlands.
“In the state of Rio de Janeiro, the use of technology by criminals is not as common as in São Paulo,” the report said. “However, criminals in the region use more violence and threats against drivers and assistants.”
Overall, the most commonly stolen products throughout Brazil (in no specific order) are food and drinks, electronics, pharmaceuticals, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
FWI: Brazil’s top state for cargo theft is São Paulo
