Calgary contractor uses AirTags to recover stolen construction materials
CBC
A Calgary contractor, fed up with having his building materials stolen, used Apple AirTags to track down more than $10,000 worth of exterior house trim that was lifted from a job site this week.
Pierre Dumont, owner of Pierrefect Contracting Inc., said a shortage of building material has led to a rash of building material thefts in Calgary. He said it happened to him twice in a two-week period this summer.
"We don't get paid enough to supply the material twice," said Dumont. "It's hurting us quite bad."
Dumont decided to act. He bought several AirTags, hiding them among his packages of siding and trim.
He was on his way to work Wednesday when he opened his phone and noticed three of the tags were at a house near Falconridge — nowhere close to his current job site. Dumont called his co-worker to meet him with a trailer at the address listed.
They first knocked on the wrong door, and were told by the person inside that a neighbour owned a siding company, Dumont said.
"We went there, then I pressed [the button] to locate my AirTag, and it was pointing right to the guy's backyard," said Dumont. "Then I just look over the fence: all my product."
Dumont recorded the incident and later posted the video to social media. He also called Calgary police.
The service confirmed to CBC News that officers were dispatched Wednesday morning to an address in Castleridge following a report of stolen property.
"Upon arrival, police spoke with a man who claimed to be the rightful owner, as well as a man who was believed to have transported the property to the residence," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Police have not said whether charges are pending or confirmed the names of the parties involved, citing the ongoing investigation.
Asked to weigh in on Dumont's strategy of using AirTags to track down stolen items, Calgary police declined to comment but encouraged people to keep documentation, such as photos and serial numbers, of their possessions and to report thefts to police.
CBC Calgary reached out by phone, email and social media to the company that was alleged to have taken the trim but did not get a response Thursday.
As for Dumont, he said he took the material back to his job site Wednesday. He plans to continue using the AirTags to keep track of his building materials and valuables.
High levels of heavy metals and metalloids in untreated groundwater have been detected in and around Whitehorse, new research suggests.
Elections Nova Scotia will delay the release of provincial election results tonight due to the late opening of a polling station in the riding of Eastern Shore.
The longtime mayor of Kensington is stepping down after a contentious debate over new pickleball courts for the central P.E.I. town.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's agreed to meet with his provincial and territorial counterparts after Donald Trump threatened to impose hefty tariffs on Canadian goods.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods is "like a family member stabbing you right in the heart."
The Salvation Army can't fundraise in the Avalon Mall after this year. It all comes down to religion
This is the last Christmas season the Salvation Army's annual kettle campaign will be allowed in the Avalon Mall in St. John's, ending a decades-long tradition.
The province and district social services administration boards say plans are in place to ensure people on social assistance do not miss out on benefits as a result of the strike by Canada Post employees.
Near the exit to Truro, N.S., a cluster of colorful tents and a lone RV can be seen alongside Highway 102, some tucked under the overpass for shelter from the elements.
Police and Public Trust, a project of the CBC News Atlantic investigative unit, scrutinizes the largely off-limits police complaint and discipline systems across the region. Journalists are using access to information laws and, in some cases, court challenges to obtain discipline records and data.
Toronto police have arrested a GTA woman who they allege scammed dozens of Taylor Swift fans out of more than $70,000 by promising them tickets that never materialized.
Montreal was, in years past, considered a haven for renters. But those days are long gone.