THE EPIDEMIC OF HIJACKINGS IN ITALY, WHERE TRUCK TRANSPORT IS ESPECIALLY COMMON, APPEARS TO BE THE WORK OF A MAFIA ORGANIZATION WHICH CAN QUICKLY DISPOSE OF THE STOLEN GOODS. APPROXIMATELY 4,804 SUCH THEFTS OCCURRED IN ITALY IN 1974, AND POLICE ESTIMATES OF LOSSES FOR MERCHANDISE RUN TO 40 MILLION SWISS FRANCS. MOST FREQUENTLY, TRUCKS ARE TAKEN FROM PARKING PLACES WHEN DRIVERS ARE ON BREAKS. ANTIHIJACKING MEASURES INCLUDE DRIVERS' LISTS OF DANGEROUS PLACES, INFORMATION ON THE ANTITHEFT SYSTEM, AND TRUCK CONVOYS; MORE EXTENSIVE SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS ARE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. CERTAIN INSURANCE COMPANIES REQUIRE THE TRANSPORTER TO INSTALL A SECURITY SYSTEM, BUT IN GENERAL, INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE NOT AGREED ON WHAT ANTITHEFT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN. THE VEHICLES ARE USUALLY FOUND WITHIN A WEEK, SOMETIMES WITH THE HELP OF 'SECURITY COMPANIES' POSSIBLY ALLIED WITH THE HIJACKERS; IF TRUCKS ARE NOT LOCATED WITHIN 30 DAYS, INSURANCE COMPANIES MUST PAY. THE MERCHANDISE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS RARELY RECOVERED AND IS GENERALLY PUT ON THE MARKET WITHIN HOURS BY A SOPHISTICATED FENCING ORGANIZATION. IN SOME CASES DRIVER NEGLIGENCE OR EVEN COLLABORATION MAY BE A FACTOR. AS A RESULT OF THE THEFTS, INSURANCE RATES IN ITALY HAVE RISEN 30 TO 50 PERCENT. DESPITE CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE, AUTO THEFTS HAVE ALSO REMAINED COMMON IN NORTHERN ITALY, AS TWO EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATE. -IN FRENCH. (KMD)