Greater Toronto Area - The "Shopping Triangle" for Cargo Thieves
In security circles, the Greater Toronto Area has come to be known as the "shopping triangle" for cargo thieves who continue to wreak havoc on the Canadian trucking industry to the tune of $5 billion per year, snapping up everything from electronics to metals, by any means necessary.

Canada's cargo theft crisis continues to escalate, with reports to the Insurance Bureau of Canada doubling to 400 over 2015 alone, primarily in southern Ontario. As Canada's most targeted area, the shopping triangle is a geographical region that's not only on organized crime's radar, but the radar of security experts like Ron Hartman, too, who's working to empower trucking companies through a long list of modern prevention measures.

"We all know it's a lot easier to prevent a crime than solve it," says Hartman, speaking at a Wednesday seminar hosted by the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada. "You must think like a criminal."

Hartman is director of security solutions for AFIMAC Global, which specializes in cargo theft prevention. While the old school criminal methods of hijacking cargo are alive and well, Hartman says technology has allowed for more criminals to operate from behind the safety of a desk, utilizing online information and applications to find new ways to infiltrate the system, and of course, precious cargo.

One of the more recent cargo theft phenomenon is dubbed fraudulent pickups. Essentially, criminals setup an entirely fictitious trucking company online, and then use it to prey on shippers who don't do their homework, failing to screen and verify data. The criminals troll load boards and make a deal. "Then that load gets picked up and never delivered," says Hartman.

Hartman describes the cargo theft business as "low risk, low penalty, high reward." In fact, theft is so pervasive that he estimates as much as 60 percent of these crimes go unreported, mostly out of fear over rising insurance premiums, or corporate image. Of course, nobody likes to admit they're a victim. todaystrucking.com

Ontario Superior Court rejects Target Canada's recovery plan
Failed U.S.-owned retailer Target Canada faces yet another big setback. In an unusual move, the Ontario Superior Court has rejected the insolvent retailer's proposed recovery plan for its creditors. The decision late Wednesday by Justice Geoffrey Morawetz followed stiff opposition to the proposal by major landlords who stood to gain little in the would-be plan. Still, other creditors, including suppliers, would have received as much as 75 to 85 per cent of their "proven" claims. Now, Target Canada, which filed for court protection from its creditors almost exactly a year ago - on Jan. 15, 2015 - will almost certainly have to draw up a new plan in the case, which has squeezed a wide swath of suppliers, landlords and other businesses. theglobeandmail.com

Slumping loonie holds silver lining for Canadian retailers
as cross-border shopping expected to 'all but die'
The Canadian dollar's plunge to a 12-year low is seen boosting sales for the country's retailers in 2016 as fewer shoppers cross the border south, but profit growth will vary depending on their ability to control import costs and push through price increases. The currency has lost roughly a third of its value against the U.S. dollar since the start of 2014 as weaker prices for oil, a key Canadian export, triggered a mild recession last year. It fell to less than 71 U.S. cents this week. In their 2016 outlook for Canada, the commercial real estate services firm CBRE says an influx of tourists and foreign retailers such as Nordstrom Inc. setting up shop should help spur retail sales growth despite limp economic growth. financialpost.com

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Canada's Cargo Theft Crisis Escalates As Thieves Go Online
In security circles, the Greater Toronto Area has come to be known as the "shopping triangle" for cargo thieves who continue to wreak havoc on the Canadian trucking industry to the tune of $5 billion per year, snapping up everything from electronics to metals, by any means necessary. Canada's cargo theft crisis continues to escalate, with reports to the Insurance Bureau of Canada doubling to 400 over 2015 alone, primarily in southern Ontario. claimspages.com

Mac's and Crime Stoppers Join Forces With Captain Canuck
Mac's Convenience Stores and Crime Stoppers have partnered with Captain Canuck to celebrate the 40th Anniversary edition of the iconic Canadian comic book. Mac's is taking this opportunity to generate brand exposure, while also reinforcing its continued support of Crime Stoppers across Canada. The promotion of the comic also demonstrated Mac's commitment to its philosophy of Crime Prevention Through Community Engagement. cstoredecisions.com

Edmonton, AB: 1,300 guns were reported stolen in 2015 in Alberta -
double the amount stolen in 2012
The head of the RCMP in Alberta is raising the alarm about stolen guns after the number of firearm thefts reported to RCMP in the province swelled by more than 20 per cent in 2015. There are currently 10,000 guns listed stolen or missing in Alberta RCMP jurisdictions. The number of stolen firearms reported to RCMP has more than doubled since 2012. There were 1,300 guns reported stolen in RCMP jurisdictions in Alberta in 2015 - more than three each day - not including those reported stolen in Calgary and Edmonton. Those cities are also seeing more guns, and more gun crime. There were 94 shootings in Calgary in 2015, nearly a 100-per-cent increase from the year before. edmontonjournal.com

British Columbia: Rookie Mountie solves unusual crime after watching CTV News A stolen truck has been returned to a Surrey car dealership after a very unusual theft - and a very unusual arrest. On Dec. 19, an employee at the car dealership Haley Dodge in South Surrey handed over a set of keys to a brand new pick-up truck to a man pretending to do a dealer trade. The suspect then drove off with the truck before staff noticed, police said. ctvnews.ca

Edmonton: Mac's convenience store shooting victim Karanpal Bhangu laid to rest Bhangu, 35, was one of two Mac's convenience store workers shot and killed in two apparent armed robberies on Dec. 18. He leaves behind his wife, Kiranbir, and son Royce. edmontonsun.com