A truck full of nickel sand, mined at CVRD Inco, was hijacked in Toronto on July 25.
“It was our material,” confirmed Cory McPhee, spokesman for CVRD Inco.
“Cargo theft has always been an issue in our industry,” said Doug Switzer, manager of government relations for the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA).
“Though there are no statistics on how prevalent this problem is, I know that all companies train drivers to deal with these situations and do their best to provide security for their drivers,” said Switzer. “Truck drivers take cargo thefts very personally, just like some one getting carjacked, they often feel personally responsible.”
According to Toronto police, on Wednesday, July 25 around 9:30 pm, the driver of the truck was forced from his tractor-trailer while at the intersection of The East Mall and North Queen St.
Th truck was stolen and the man was taken to a commuter lot on Hwy. 6, south of Hwy. 401, in Guelph.
On Thursday, July 26 at 6 am, police received a call about a man bound and gagged in a parked vehicle.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the driver in a 2003 silver Acura. He was treated for minor injuries by paramedics and taken to the hospital, then released.
The stolen truck was pulling two trailers, each one having a sea container that held 44,000 pounds of nickel oxide sinter, also known as nickel sand.
“Since the incident the truck and trailer have been recovered without the nickel sand inside,” said Const. George Schuurman.
Police refused to comment as to whether there was a tracking device installed in the truck.
Toronto police are investigating the theft. Anyone with information is asked to phone police at 1-416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers at 1-416-222-TIPS, or online at www.222tips.com.
