Italian carriers warn that attacks are becoming more organised, more violent, and increasingly targeted at specific goods. Italy has once again returned to the list of countries most affected by transport crime.
Lombardy and Milan: the epicentre of theft
The Italian transport organisation Trasportounito reports that the most dangerous region in 2025 is the Milan area, particularly motorway junctions along the A1, A4, A50 and A64. Several of Italy’s key logistics hubs are located here, attracting well-organised criminal groups.
According to the association, the most severe and coordinated attacks involve blocking traffic lanes, using stolen vehicles, scattering spikes to delay police intervention, and quickly emptying containers or stealing fuel. These groups operate with clear planning, and their actions typically last only a few minutes.
The south and centre of the country also at risk
Although Milan tops the list, Trasportounito also names several other high-risk areas. Particularly dangerous regions include Apulia, Lombardy,* Lazio and Campania, as well as the areas around Valmontone, Orvieto, Valdarno, Incisa and Bologna.
Across all these regions, 2025 has seen a marked rise in crime—especially during stops, in industrial zones, and in areas with limited service presence.
Dramatic decline in police control and visibility
According to Trasportounito, the core problem is a significant reduction in law-enforcement presence on Italian roads and in parking areas. Maurizio Longo, the organisation’s general secretary, stresses that in many locations drivers face an “almost complete absence” of patrols.
These are precisely the areas where containers are most frequently emptied, fuel is stolen, drivers are assaulted, and robberies take place during mandatory rest breaks.
Almost one-third of all thefts occur during stops—particularly in places without surveillance or adequate lighting.
One safe parking space for 289 trucks
TT Club points to a structural problem that largely explains the scale of the crisis: Italy, like much of Europe, lacks certified secure parking facilities. The figures are stark—there is only one TAPA-compliant safe parking space for every 289 trucks.
This severe shortage forces drivers to rest in roadside lay-bys, near unsupervised warehouses, or in unlit public car parks. Such locations create ideal conditions for gangs specialising in trailer theft, fuel theft and attacks on drivers.
Carriers demand immediate action
In response to the growing number of attacks, Trasportounito has requested an urgent meeting with Italy’s Ministry of the Interior. The organisation is calling for:
- stronger police controls
• increased technological surveillance on critical routes
• the creation of a permanent security unit
• rapid intervention against organised criminal groups
The union stresses that the current situation requires “immediate and pragmatic” measures to halt the escalating wave of transport-sector crime.
