Courier load theft: what to record and when

Before the shift

• Vehicle recorded: registration, make, type, security features and current condition photos.
• Your goods-in-transit or courier insurance details and cover limits to hand.
• The round, depot or client for the day, with start time.

During the shift

• Parcel count taken on board, and the manifest or run reference.
• Any high-value or identifiable items noted separately.
• Photograph the loaded vehicle at the start — it shows what was actually carried.

Immediately after an incident

• Make yourself safe first. In a robbery, that comes before any recording.
• Call 999 if it has just happened or anyone is hurt; otherwise report via 101 or online.
• Photograph the vehicle, damage, forced locks, the scene and the surroundings.
• Note the exact time, location, and anything about vehicles or people involved.
• Ask nearby premises whether CCTV covers the spot, and note who to contact.
• Get the crime reference number and record it against the incident.

Then tell the people who need to know

Notify the depot or client promptly — most contracts require it within a set window. Notify your insurer separately, with the crime reference, the parcel count, the manifest reference and your photographs. Keep a copy of everything you send.

Why the pre-shift record decides the outcome

Without a record made before the theft, everything you say about the load is a reconstruction — and that is exactly where disputes start. A vehicle, shift and load logged in advance turns the conversation from "what do you think was on board?" into a documented list.

The courier side of TVAR follows that order: vehicle, shift, load, incident, evidence pack.

General information only, not legal or insurance advice. Your contract and policy wording take precedence.