Thefts of cargo trucks stocked with food shipments are becoming increasingly common across the country, according to the trucking industry.

While thefts of trucks hauling valuable items like plasma televisions have been more common in recent years, statistics suggest that food is also now being targeted.

The increase is reportedly due to increasing interest from organized criminal groups, who believe they can make money stealing the goods.

"It's because it's a quick sale," said driver Andy Lupenette. "They can move it into a warehouse and they can distribute it out. It's an easy thing to sell."

Lupenette said that such thefts resemble car-jacking incidents, where the drivers are forcibly removed from the truck by armed robbers: "They come up on the side of the truck with guns -- what are you going to do?"

Thefts of cargo trucks, semis and other transport vehicles costs the industry billions, according to statistics. The Canadian Trucking Alliance says cargo theft is getting worse.

"Overall, the costs to the Canadian economy is about $5 billion" each year, said David Bradley from the alliance.

It's believed that such thefts occur at nighttime, when traffic is thinner. The thieves then load their valuable goods into rented warehouses.

Sometimes, criminals work with inside information from truckers themselves, observers believe.

The lure of easy money has a very strong appeal, industry experts say.

"You offer some guy 10, 15,000 dollars to basically turn a trailer-load of freight over to somebody, they are going to be tempted to do it," suggested Gord Williamson, from Meyers Transportation Services.

In fact, the illegal activity may be even more widespread, with the tentacles of organized crime reaching deeper into the industry.

Sophisticated criminals are using special compartments built into tractor-trailers to smuggle drugs across borders.

According to an RCMP intelligence report, organized crime groups are concealing their illicit activities through layers of company ownerships, name changes and business closures.

With a report from CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife