Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: JUNE 2016 19 I f you’re looking to take down a major score (as we say on the East Coast), forget about knocking over a high-stakes card game or ripping off the local meth dealer. If you really want to steal some money, consider nut theft. The high-tech hijackers in California really have their act together. They’ve got impressive fake documents, shell companies to throw the dogs off the scent and are proficient computer hackers. The crime rings use the data they hack to divert truck- loads of almonds, walnuts, and other nuts like pistachios right from under the nose of growers. Even if the owners find out quick, the loads are re- packed, sold and shipped with enormous precision. “By then, when the owners discover theft, it’s already stolen, sold, and shipped off to wherever,” an official with CargoNet, a New Jersey company that tracks cargo theft, told Buzzfeed. Hijackers and cargo thieves adapt to what’s available. When big, flat-screen televi- sions were all the rage and being shipped all over the place, that’s what the crooks went after. But nuts are bet- ter. “There’s no serial number on a pistachio,” said Scott Cornell, a crime and theft specialist for Travelers Insur- ance. Oddly enough, automa- tion and “software solutions” have made it a lot easier for the crime rings to operate. In the old days one per- son would pick up the land line and call another. “Did you get the order? Has it shipped?” But now the computer, which is easily hacked, han- dles the details. Growers and companies noticed the rising trend last year. In 2015 Cali- fornia nut growers reported 28 thefts, with each heist yielding an average of more than $200,000 in nuts. That’s a total haul of $5.6 million. When the growers wised up, the thieves targeted the trucking companies ship- ping the product. “If they get information from the truck company, they can hack into that com- pany’s account,” Cornell of Travelers Insurance said. Basically it’s never-chang- ing game of cat and mouse. Growers and trucking com- panies are considering live- tracking of shipments until they get to their destination. But every time they come up with a new solution, the thieves go around it in no time flat. “They know the transportation industry very well, and they know exactly where to insert themselves,” Cornell said. O.C. nut thieves got game Pelican Products, Inc. 23215 Early Avenue, Torrance, CA 90505 866.838.9285 (TOLL FREE) • Tel 310.326.4700 •Fax 310.326.3311 All trademarks are registered and/or unregistered trademarks of Pelican Products, Inc., its affiliates and/or subsidiaries. With new airline-friendly form factors, Pelican™ Air will lighten the load of those talented and dedicated pros who set out to change the game and set the standards for others to follow. Now more than ever, when serious pros need to protect the tools of their trade, they will reach for Pelican Air. NOTHING PROTECTS LIKE A PELICAN CASE CAN. GUARANTEED FOR LIFE. See the new line of cases at www.pelican.com/air UP TO 40% LIGHTER. FLOATSLIKEABUTTERFLY. PROTECTSLIKEAPELICAN.