During the 2016 financial year, Imperial Logistics investigated hijackings involvibng 86 trucks with a value of more than R134-million.

A dedicated Imperial Logistics investigation team successfully recovered more than 90% of these trucks, trailers and vehicles, says Imperial Logistics chief strategy officer Cobus Rossouw.

The investigation team comprises five members who boast more than 100 years of combined experience in the field of vehicle-related crime.

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,” says Rossouw. “In the process, three employees were dismissed.”

Imperial Logistics’ contribution to fighting truck hijackings, vehicle theft and related crimes in the transport industry has been recognised by the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI), with the South African group presented with the ‘Vehicle Crime Combating Award’.

Members of the Imperial Logistics investigations team are on standby 24 hours a day to assist companies in the group and their clients with investigations.

The investigators work closely with other industry role-players, including vehicle tracking companies and their recovery teams, as well as private investigators operating in the transport industry.

“We also liaise on a regular basis with law enforcement agencies like the South African Police Provincial Investigation Unit, the Hawks, the South African Revenue Service Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Interpol and Border Police,” says Rossouw.

IAATI is a nonprofit 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 the US in 1952 and currently has over 3 500 professional members in 71 countries.

The Southern African branch was established in 1990.