Program launched in Atlantic Canada to help curb cargo theft

A blue truck sits in a parking lot.

FREDERICTON -- A cargo theft reporting program aimed at slowing down heists of entire truckloads of goods is making some gains and spreading its methods across Canada.

Members of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association gathered with the insurance industry and police on Wednesday in Fredericton to announce they'll be adopting the tip-off system developed in Ontario and Quebec aimed at putting a dent in the thefts.

Amanda Dean, the Atlantic vice president with the Insurance Bureau of Canada, said the problem has been historically under-reported, despite representing $5 billion in lost goods annually.

She gave the example of a truck that disappeared in Moncton recently, turning up the next day in Quebec empty of $50,000 in goods.

Speed is of the essence in the cases due to the rapid movement of the stolen cargo, said Dean.

She explained how a truckload of T-shirts was stolen in Brampton, Ont., at 3 a.m. and within five hours half the trailer's contents were en route to Los Angeles.

The other half was at a flea market in Port Elgin, Ont., already being sold. The truck wasn't reported stolen until 9 a.m.

The Cargo Theft Initiative encourages the rapid reporting of stolen cargo and a streamlined system to inform police, border and other agencies in an effort to intercept the stolen goods.

"We've been running this program in Ontario and Quebec for over two years, and just with the information that we've been receiving through that part of the program -- which is why we're taking it nationwide -- we're seeing the results," said Dean.

The Cargo Theft Initiative program is being rolled out in Atlantic Canada, and will be expanded to western Canada later this year.

Jean-Marc Picard, executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association said often trucking companies wouldn't report cargo thefts because of concerns of how it would affect their reputation or insurance.

But he said the companies are aware that organized crime is becoming involved, and truckers are starting to respond in order to preserve their livelihoods.

"These crimes are very well thought out and individuals know very well what is in the trailer, and there is a network to distribute the goods," he said.

Under the new program, once a theft is reported, the information is distributed to police agencies and border officials in both Canada and the United States, along with all the trucking associations in the region in an effort to detect the movement of stolen goods.

RCMP Chief Supt. Wayne Gallant said New Brunswick is a gateway to major markets.

"There is the potential for thieves to target cargo vehicles on our highways and other transport routes," he said.