Theft from lorries is becoming a growing problem

Thieves are cutting holes in the coverings of lorries in order to see whether there is anything worth stealing inside

Checks carried out by South and Southern Jutland Police reveal that almost three out of four tarpaulin lorries crossing the border have had holes cut in their coverings.

The holes have been cut by thieves to check the lorry’s load for anything worth taking.

The problem is a growing one all over Europe and, according to the police, the value of the goods lifted from lorries totals around 60 billion kroner per year.

Cross-border collaboration
In order to combat the problem, South and Southern Jutland Police has joined with European colleagues under the umbrella ‘Project Cargo’.

“We’re engaged in collecting better data from Denmark and abroad on where the thefts take place, who the suspects are and who gets caught,” police special consultant Lars Haugaard Thomsen told DR Nyheder.

“In this way we can set national and international investigations in motion.”

ITD, the trade organisation for Danish road transport, is only too aware of the problem.

“I was surprised that the figure was so high, but I don’t doubt it because there are really a lot of examples of this out there,” Jørn-Henrik Carstens, the head of ITD’s political department, told DR Nyheder.

Greater security needed at truck stops
One of the reasons for the increasing number of thefts could be that lorries are seen as ‘soft targets’ – especially in the light of the fact that storage warehouses are beefing up their security.

Drivers would also like to see more security at truck stops. “In my view, we need more truck stops with surveillance cameras,” said Carstens.

He went on to point out that as well as having consequences for the delivery of individual loads, the thefts are driving up insurance costs for future cargoes.




  • Gangs of Copenhagen

    Gangs of Copenhagen

    While Copenhagen is rated one of the safest cities in the world year after year, it is no stranger to organized crime, which often springs from highly professional syndicates operating from the shadows of the capital. These are the most important criminal groups active in the city

  • “The Danish underworld is now more tied to Scandinavia”

    “The Danish underworld is now more tied to Scandinavia”

    Carsten Norton is the author of several books about crime and gangs in Denmark, a journalist, and a crime specialist for Danish media such as TV 2 and Ekstra Bladet.

  • Right wing parties want nuclear power in Denmark

    Right wing parties want nuclear power in Denmark

    For 40 years, there has been a ban on nuclear power in Denmark. This may change after all right-wing parties in the Danish Parliament have expressed a desire to remove the ban.

  • Tunø: An island running out of time

    Tunø: An island running out of time

    The island of Tunø harbors a community of 74 adults and one child. There are no cars and only one connection to the rest of the world. Now, climate change threatens it

  • Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    Cross-border moves on the rise in the Øresund region

    The number of relocations across the Øresund Region is rising. As highlighted by 2023 numbers, Sweden benefits from a growing interest, especially among younger generations.

  • In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.