Authorities are investigating several thefts, including 400 cases of beef stolen from an unattended truck early Tuesday morning.
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The theft occurred on the 2800 block of South 63rd Street just before 5 a.m. The driver returned to find the truck empty, marking it the latest incident in a spree of cargo thefts that have affected the city, totaling 11 since June 26. According to FOX 26, a driver was assaulted earlier this month and thrown to the ground after confronting a group of thieves. Police believe the recent thefts are connected to a group of suspects driving a Dodge Durango and a white SUV.
Philadelphia’s ports along Delaware Avenue receive deliveries of meats, fruits, and vegetables from various trucks. However, there is a lack of secure truck stops in the region, leaving drivers vulnerable to theft. One driver, Andrew Curry, expressed his concerns to the media, stating that the limited number of truck stops in Philadelphia sometimes puts drivers in unsafe situations.
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“I’m on the road so much, you forget the days. You just know the dates because you know when you have to deliver. You only have 11 hours to drive and three hours to break, but when that time runs out, I often find myself sleeping on the side of the road, in the truck, in an unsafe place,”
“We still have to get our rest. We are driving all night, all morning, and then we have to worry about not getting proper rest because we have to keep one eye open and keep peeking out just to make sure the lock is still on the back of the truck,” Curry continued. Some truck companies have advised drivers not to park in Philadelphia as a safety precaution, and authorities warned drivers not to confront thieves.
