TAPA EMEA data leaves no room for illusion: supply chains remain among the most attractive and relatively easy targets for organised crime. The scale of the phenomenon is growing, and perpetrators’ methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated and brutal. “Criminal groups are evolving faster than the supply chains themselves,” stresses Francesco Giannini, CEO of Multiprotexion. It’s a diagnosis that captures the industry’s current situation well.
557 crimes in a month. Over €43 million in losses
In December 2025, 557 new crimes across 38 countries in the EMEA region were reported to the TAPA EMEA Intelligence System database. The value of the stolen goods was provided for only 100 incidents (i.e. just 17.9% of all events) and totalled €43,162,049.
This means that the average daily loss in December was €1,392,324, and the average value of crimes for which an amount was reported reached €431,620.
The scale of the largest incidents is particularly alarming. 15 thefts worth at least €100,000 generated an average loss of €2,822,510.
The most spectacular case was recorded on 19 December. From a warehouse in Dugny near Paris, 30 pallets of electronics were stolen – 50,456 devices, including smartphones, laptops and tablets. Losses were estimated at €30 million. The facility was reportedly left unattended, and the perpetrators damaged the doors and disabled the CCTV and alarm system.
For comparison in December 2024 the value of stolen goods was around €36.9 million. The total losses in December 2024 were the second-highest monthly figure recorded by the TAPA EMEA Intelligence System (TIS) during the year. (More was reported in November – €40.2 million).
Warehouses under attack, trucks in the crosshairs
The most frequently recorded category of crime was theft from a facility (e.g. a warehouse) – 268 cases, i.e. 48.11% of all events. Second were thefts from vehicles – 89 cases, followed by vehicle theft – 63 cases.
In terms of location, the following dominated:
- warehouses – 149 incidents (26.75%),
- retail stores – 132 incidents (23.70%),
- in-transit transport – 44 cases (7.90%).
As many as 73.79% of crimes involved break-ins, while 11.13% involved violence or threats of violence. Fraud was also recorded, as well as truck hijackings, semi-trailer thefts and container thefts.
Germany the least safe
The highest number of incidents was reported in Germany – 115, followed by Italy – 64 and the UK – 54.
The top five also included Spain and France – 41 cases each.
These were precisely the countries that, in December, topped the notorious list of states with the highest number of crimes against cargo.
“Made-to-order” theft and rapid monetisation
The structure of stolen goods also stands out in the December data – losses were recorded across 21 product categories. Serious incidents included, among others:
- the theft of chemical catalysts worth €5 million in Darmstadt,
- an attack on an armoured truck carrying jewellery worth €2 million in Italy,
- the theft of 20,000 rounds of Bundeswehr ammunition from an unattended truck in Germany,
- the theft of a safe containing cash and lottery tickets worth €300,000 in Spain.
In one Spanish investigation, police established that stolen clothing and footwear were sold to regular customers and on well-known sales platforms, offered at discounts of around 50% off the retail price. The goods were “authentic, new and from the current collection,” which suggests the theft occurred at an earlier stage of the supply chain.
This confirms concerns about “made-to-order” theft, in which criminals know exactly what, where and when to take – and how to get it onto the market quickly.
Brazen attacks at the start of 2026
The start of the new year has not brought any easing of the situation – according to the latest TAPA report. On 13 January in France, two trucks carrying electronics worth €4 million were attacked in an operation described as “paramilitary”. The drivers were blocked on the route and then – according to reports – attacked by more than a dozen masked men armed with axes. The vehicles were driven 15 km further, where the cargo was transhipped.
In Italy, on the A14 motorway, a gang blocked the road with burning vehicles and used spike strips and firearms to stop an armoured vehicle carrying cash. The haul was around €400,000.
In the Netherlands, a shipment of home energy storage units worth €400,000 was stolen, and in Germany – 22 tonnes of copper worth around €200,000.
We firmly believe that in 2026 we will see many more organised crimes targeting supply chains, especially in Europe. Criminal groups are fully aware of the high value of goods and the low risk associated with committing these crimes,” comments Thorsten Neumann, CEO of TAPA EMEA.
Intelligence versus crime
The TIS database already contains more than 270,000 crime reports from over 110 countries. TAPA EMEA stresses that the data should not simply “sit in the system”, but should be used for real risk management, planning secure routes and strengthening security procedures.
Today, it is not enough to react after the fact. It is essential to use data for prevention, especially given the growing role of fraud involving fake carriers, impersonating transport companies or manipulating documentation.
TAPA report is only a slice of reality
It is worth emphasising, however, that the statistics presented by TAPA are based solely on reports submitted by companies affiliated with the organisation. They therefore show only part of the thefts that occur in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The number of companies belonging to the organisation continues to grow. According to the latest official information, in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, TAPA EMEA currently brings together more than 700 companies and organisations as members and partners.
