TRUCK firms are being targeted by quicksilver thieves who can change a vehicle's identity or strip it down before the owners even notice it has been stolen.

The speedy crooks, estimated to cost Britain's truckers £600 million a year, are thought able to steal and dismantle a truck in 45 minutes.

A third of all thefts takes place at weekend but, even during the week, a lorry taken at night can be crated on the dockside, waiting to be exported, before it is reported missing.

The criminals are outwitting security tracking devices because vehicles have often been split up before they can be activated.

The trend has been highlighted in a report by Britain's biggest motor insurer, Norwich Union.

Marketing manager Derek Plummer said: "Criminals either steal a truck and change its identity to sell on, or more often strip it down and export the parts.

"Trucks are often parked in isolated places overnight so the theft is not noticed quickly.

"We look forward to new security systems being developed and approved and will encourage their use by applying preferential insurance rates to firms who use them.

"We will also be looking more closely at the security of the places where these vehicles are parked."

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