Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
Spike in stolen trailers sets off high-tech cat and mouse game with thieves

Spike in stolen trailers sets off high-tech cat and mouse game with thieves

CBC
Friday, December 1, 2023 3:23 PM GMT

In his 20 years in the trailer business, Shane Thompson hasn't seen anything like the spike in trailer thefts over the past few years.

"Unfortunately it's far too common, especially in the last five or six years we've seen more of an increase in theft than ever before," said the owner of Action Trailers in Strathroy. "Pretty much every week, we're hearing about people losing their trailers." 

One of those people is Nicholas Waldram, a London, Ont., owner of a company that installs and repairs rain gutters. He had one of his two work trailers stolen outside his business in September. Then last weekend, the replacement trailer was stolen despite Waldram having spent $4,000 in security upgrades recommended by police. You can read his story here. 

A GPS tracker was among the security updates on the trailer taken last weekend. It briefly pinged its location in Strathroy in the hours after it was driven away from a business plaza in south London. Shortly after that the signal abruptly ended. Police have not been able to recover it. 

Thompson said GPS locators hidden on trailers to thwart thieves are becoming much less effective. This is because thieves are now using handheld radio frequency (RF) detectors to quickly locate the device and disable it, often within minutes after the drive away with the trailer. The RF detectors can be bought online for as little as $60. They have legitimate uses, including finding hidden cameras.

"People are realizing that trailers are an easy thing to target and steal, compared to a vehicle," he said. "Most thieves will have the RF scanner now." 

That's forced Thompson to turn to a new gizmo to combat thieves called KCYC. It's pronounced "kicks" and its an acronym for "Keeping Your Community Safe." About the size of a pack of playing cards, the device is hidden on board a trailer or a vehicle just like a GPS tracker. Because they only transmit their location in a short burst at a set time, they're more difficult for thieves to find and disable.

The KCYC also has an app that sends location information to police after the theft is reported. 

That's an important function because police don't want trailers owner to try and recover stolen property on their own. 

Const. Jeff Hare is with the Ontario Provincial Police, a force that sees plenty of trailer thefts in the rural areas they patrol.

"We strongly suggest owners do not personally attend the location of where the vehicle may be," he said. "Members of the public need to remember these are criminals we are dealing with and can be unpredictable at times. The last thing we need is someone getting hurt trying to get their property back."

The KCYC device costs about $500 but that covers four years of service via the app. A repeat customer pays less to have the device upgraded along with a new coverage contract. The renewal is also needed to replace the battery which lasts about five years.

Thompson told CBC News he uses a KYCS on each of the trailers on his lot. He also sells the devices to his customers. Thompson has had more then 10 trailers stolen and said each time, police have been able to recover them. 

Another aspect of trailer thefts: Thompson said stolen trailers are too easy to re-register, and resell. That's because Ontario's transportation ministry doesn't require a serial number to register trailers as "homemade." The person registering the trailer has to produce identification but the trailers are never inspected. 

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Airbnb says thousands of B.C. reservations at risk, blames 'rushed' rental rules

Short-term vacation rental platform Airbnb said Friday that "thousands" of reservations in British Columbia are at risk of cancellation, accusing the province of rushing out regulations as it cracked down on the industry.

Protester gets on Ford Fest stage in Etobicoke at annual Ontario PC event

A protester made it onto the stage at a Ford Fest event in Etobicoke organized by the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party on Friday.

New patient targets for family doctors could hurt P.E.I.'s reputation, says national college

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is raising concerns over new targets for family doctors on P.E.I. and calling on all parties to work together to find a solution.

Hanlan's Beach is getting a bubble zone to keep away motorized boats and vehicles

Toronto police's marine unit will create a bubble zone around Hanlan's Beach as a pilot project this summer to improve safety for swimmers, kayakers and paddleboarders.

Fort Good Hope N.W.T man sentenced to 7 years in prison for manslaughter

An N.W.T judge has sentenced a man from Fort Good Hope to seven years in prison for killing another man from the community last year.

Most Albertans will have to pay for COVID-19 shots starting this fall, province says

Alberta's government says residents who are not immunocompromised or on social programs will soon have to pay to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Man shot by police in Markham condo unit has died: SIU

A man shot by a police officer in a condo in Markham earlier this week has died, the Special Investigations Unit says.

P.E.I. coroner's office investigating 55-year-old man's death in Charlottetown park

Prince Edward Island's coroner's office is investigating a recent death at Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Park in Charlottetown. 

Yukon RCMP report fatal car crash south of Whitehorse

The RCMP is responding to a fatal collision south of Whitehorse that left one dead and another injured. 

Canada calling for de-escalation between Israel and Iran, says foreign affairs minister

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada is calling for de-escalation after Israel targeted Iran's nuclear sites and killed Iranian military leaders with a barrage of airstrikes early Friday.

RCMP ask for help identifying 2 men connected to indecent acts on P.E.I.'s North Shore

Police in Prince Edward Island are asking for the public's help identifying two men involved in separate incidents of indecent acts that were reported in Queens County.

His dad's old age pension suddenly stopped coming, leaving couple at 'desperation time'

A London couple say they've been hit with a steep and unexpected monthly expense, after the federal government stopped an elder family member's old age security payments without explanation — payments which went toward expensive nursing home costs.

On the road to the G7 in Kananaskis, a popular wilderness retreat locks down

"Please, allow me to show you my bus that I drive for G7," says the driver.

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
The word 'family' has caused controversy for this Ontario school board. Here's why

The Waterloo Region District School Board has been talking a lot about the word "family" this month.

As some restaurants ditch seed oils for beef tallow, UPEI prof warns it's no health upgrade

At Pedro's Island Eatery in North Rustico, owner Pedro Gameiro has long been not a fan of using seed oils for frying

Yukon First Nations graduation turns 50

The parking lot of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse was full on Friday, and the building surrounded by well-dressed young people and their proud families. Despite the smoky conditions in the city, there was much to celebrate. 

Toronto should allow sixplexes to bring 'gentle density' to city, council committee says

Toronto has moved one step closer to allowing fiveplexes and sixplexes in neighbourhoods across the city.

Why removing a dead deer from the Thames River wasn't a situation of passing the buck

Warning: Some readers may find photos in this story distressing.

Can the G7 leaders still find anything to agree about?

Fifty years ago this fall the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States met in a castle outside Paris for three days of meetings, at the conclusion of which they issued the Declaration of Rambouillet, a 15-point statement of principles and commitments.

'It's escalating every minute': Iranian woman living in N.L. watches conflict with worry

An Iranian woman living in Newfoundland and Labrador says she's watching attacks between Israel and Iran with worry for her family back home.

Dramatic video captures school bus explosion in Hammonds Plains

Chase Valiant was in the middle of making an afternoon snack when his day took a dramatic turn.

Province paid Dr. John Dornan nearly $1.8M in settlement over firing as Horizon CEO

The provincial government ended up reaching a $1.8-million settlement with now-Health Minister Dr. John Dornan over his firing as the head of Horizon Health Network following the death of a Fredericton ER patient.

Montreal commuter seeks class action against public transit agency over labour strike

An authorization request to launch a class-action lawsuit against Montreal's public transit agency was filed in Quebec Superior Court Friday.

Thompson says finding hotel rooms for evacuees 'difficult' as Manitoba mulls invoking emergency powers

The City of Thompson says moving wildfire evacuees from its congregate shelter to hotel lodgings should be "a top priority," but that finding accommodations is hard this time of the year.

Family rushes to India to formally identify Regina father killed in Air India crash

The family of a Saskatchewan man says he died in the crash of an Air India plane bound for London on Thursday.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us