Thieves are targeting semitrucks to steal one pricey part

Key Facts

The theft can take only a few minutes, law enforcement officials said, but the cost can reach up to thousands of dollars for truck drivers and logistics companies.
Common powertrain controller modules, or CPCs, are increasingly being stolen from parked trucks, not just causing hundreds of dollars in damage for the lost unit, but possibly thousands of dollars in losses to drivers and companies for trucks that are then rendered inoperable.
The company is recommending that dealerships and repair facilities check the identification numbers of CPC units against the company’s database to make sure the units haven’t been stolen or sold on the black market.
The spike in thefts also prompted the Bakersfield Police Department to issue tips to prevent the thefts, including parking in a lighted area and in the view of surveillance cameras.