Truckload of stolen rifles is recovered

Half a week after a tractor-trailer load of rimfire rifles was stolen from the Peterborough area, police say they've recovered it down the highway. On Wednesday, police said the stolen trailer was recovered in Mississauga, in the area around Deerhurst Drive and Goreway Drive. The stolen truck was located earlier, in a separate location.

Police said that the trailer, when located, contained stolen rifles. Law enforcement is coordinating with Savage Arms to determine if any of the rifles originally loaded on the trailer are missing. The rifles on the trailer originated at Savage's Lakefield factory, near Peterborough; Calibre reached out to Savage Arms' Canadian subsidiary for more details, but we received no reply. However, the company's president/CEO confirmed to broadcast media that it was made-in-Lakefield firearms that were stolen. He told Global News that "strict security measures were in place" at time of the theft.

It should be noted that the theft occurred with the firearms were on the property of a local shipping company, and not from Savage's production facility.

The theft occurred early Sunday. Authorities say the tractor-trailer was taken from a Peterborough-area trucking company's lot around 3 AM. From the very start, rumours circulated about the circumstances and motivation behind the crime, but authorities stated the theft was a crime of opportunity, not targeted due to the trailer's contents. Police said the thieves had attempted to rob other trucks earlier in the night, and there was some speculation that the thieves had no interest in the trailer's contents and were actually targeting the truck, planning to use it in another crime. The fact that it was discovered in a separate location lends some credence to this theory.

Either way, authorities sound as if they're very happy to have the firearms recovered. Reports vary, but the number of firearms on board the stolen trailer was said to be at least 2,000, including their magazines. Other reports ranged as high as 3,400 rifles. As these rifles were headed out from the factory where they were made, there was no ammunition on board the shipment.

Nick Milinovich, Deputy Chief of Investigative and Emergency Services for Peel Police Services, said "We are incredibly grateful to our investigative teams and partners for their work on recovering these stolen firearms and related property. The community safety implications could have been devastating. Thankfully, their collective commitment to this investigation has extinguished this risk.”

Acting Deputy Chief Neil Collins of the Peterborough Police Service said "Peterborough Police is very thankful for the assistance of Peel Regional Police in the recovery of the trailer and firearms. The focus of this investigation has been to locate the trailer and firearms and our Police Service wishes to acknowledge the key role Peel Regional Police played. To be able to tell the public that this has happened through incredible police work and partnerships is an understatement. The investigation into the incident is ongoing along with a search for suspects.”

Police did not say exactly how the stolen transport was located.

Peterborough police are asking that anyone with information on the theft call Detective Constable Mike Penney at the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 ext. 232.