Timmins police are continuing to investigate the June 17, 2015 early morning break-in at the city’s west end Canadian Tire store that resulted in the theft of one, possibly two rifles according to Police Chief John Gauthier.
The break-in resulted in a 17-hour siege of the store which included the participation of highly trained Ontario Provincial Police tactical unit squat until it was determined the intruder had fled the store after the early more break-in prior to the police arrival.
“The break-in is under investigation and I am briefed regularly by investigative team” Chief Gauthier told a scrum of reporters following the Timmins Police Service Board meeting on Monday June 29th.
“They are following up on some good leads, other than that can speak on status of the investigation,” he said.
As for a motive for the break-in, Gauthier said police do not know the robber’s motive.
Chief Gauthier assured the public they are not in imminent danger as a result of the stolen weapon(s).
The Chief said firearm and ammunition storage at Timmins’ sporting goods stores was good.
“I have visited the city’s sporting goods store,” Chief Gauthier, told the reporters. “They all are storing their weapons according to provincial firearms regulations.”
He added that police will meet with any store owners that may have concerns.
The Chief also said this was the first time this kind of break has occurred in a Timmins sporting goods store, although he does hear about thefts of firearms from cottage break-ins across Ontario from reports issued by the OPP.
A quick search of sporting goods break-ins in Canada by TimminsToday discovered two reported incidents in 2014.
One store in Calgary was robbed twice in September, 2014 and had 20 handguns stolen.
In May, 2014 three robbers drove a stolen car through the front window of Al Simmons' Sporting Goods Store.
The men wearing dark clothing and balaclavas leaped from the car and stole four guns which the police later recovered after being discarded by the thieves.
The Hamilton Spectator reported there had been no prior gun storage issues at the store and that the owners were looking to beef-up security including placing bollards in front of the store to prevent copycat smash and grabs.
The Spectator also reported that OPP Sergeant Wayne Johnson of the Chief Firearms Office in Ontario said Hamilton police contacted his office which administers firearms regulations on behalf of the federal government.
Johnson followed up with the store owner.
In Timmins, Chief Gauthier said he was not aware if his investigating team had contacted the Chief Firearms Office in Ontario about the Timmins break-in.
A call by TimminsToday to Sergeant Johnson asking if Timmins police had reported the weapons theft or if the Chief Firearms Office was involved has not been returned so far.
Steven Kee, from the Insurance Bureau of Canada, said they don’t dictate to clients on what their security regime should be. But if a store has repeated claims the insurer may decide to drop them as clients or raise the deductible to manage the risk of offering insurance.
According to Sergeant Julie Gagnon of the RCMP all business must comply with Storage, Display and Transportation of Firearms and Other Weapons by Businesses Regulations
Additional provincial and municipal laws may also apply.
Sergeant Gagnon said an examination of the facility may be carried out by the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of the province where the theft occurred.
If the investigation found a facility was not compliant with the federal firearm storage regulations they would be asked to make improvements.
(PHOTO: Chief John Gauthier Cutline: Timmins Police Chief John Gauthier answers media questions about the investigation into Canadian Tire break-in. Frank Giorno/ TimminsToday)
Earlier TimminsToday coverage of this story:
- Police tell us about their ongoing standoff investigation
- Canadian Tire suspect images released (3 photos)
- Timmins police to release information on Canadian Tire suspect
- Standoff: What it was like inside the perimeter
- Standoff looks to have been one sided (11 photos)
- Perimeter lifted. Suspect at large (update)
- OPP issue statement on ongoing Canadian Tire situation
