It’s a fact that nicer weather will bring out shoplifters and especially the till tap artists. A till tap is theft of money from the cash drawer when no one is looking. Shopkeepers who sometimes staff the shop alone should be on the alert. Make sure you take the key to the till with you if you leave the floor. Most of these types won’t steal anything if they think someone is looking. Their scheme relies on them being able to get into the till with the twist of a key and then disappear.

The Legislature voted yesterday by a lopsided 68 to 9 to ban public transit strikes in Toronto. The union was furious. So be it. They may recall, as we do, that the last stoppage in 2008 occurred without the requisite 48 hours notice because the union said it was afraid members of the public would be angry with the drivers. So the strike occurred on 90 minutes notice, stranding people all over the city. Nice. Now no such fears will haunt the transit chiefs because no stoppage will threaten the patience of the public. A win-win for sure.

Police say there was an armed robbery at the Mac’s Milk at 250 Laird Drive south of Parklea on Monday, March 28, 2011. A 60 year old male employee says that at approximately 0120 hours, a male suspect wearing a disguise entered the premises and approached the counter. The suspect walked behind the counter, produced a handgun and made a demand for cash. The suspect then hit the victim about the face with the handgun, removed quantity of cash from the register and fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim sustained injuries and was treated on scene by members of Toronto EMS.

The national debate by leaders of the political parties running in the general electron will be held on Tuesday April 12, 2011. That’s the English language debate. The French debate will be two days later. Those participating will be Stephen Harper, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe.

Plans have been approved by the provincial government to bury the Eglinton LRT from end to end. The idea of a totally subterranean transit line was the signature concept of Mayor Rob Ford’s new transit scheme for Toronto. The original plan called for above ground sections at either end of the line. The east end, most affecting South Bayview, would have been above ground east of Leslie. As we have said in previous posts, the underground plan will probably cause much less traffic disruption during the long construction period. The LRT is not fully approved as yet. The proposal also includes an extension of the Sheppard subway line in both directions and the funding for that – an estimated $4.2 billion – is contingent upon on public-private partnership. The total cost of the plan is $12.4 billion. Locally, the LRT plan calls for stations at Laird, Bayview and Mount Pleasant. More.

The story of Percy’s recovery is one of extraordinary luck. The shop dog for Sleuth of Baker Street ran away from his owners while in the country near the tiny community of Havelock, east of Peterborough. It’s a land of lakes, rivers and small islands. Percy was being a dog when he took after some deer. But then he was gone and didn’t return. The word went out but no one was able to spot Percy.After some eight days, he was spied by two boys out on a hike. But he was across a river from them on a small island. What could they do. Percy would not swim to them and they wisely did not try to swim to him. They left. Now that extraordinary luck we mentioned. On their way, the boys met a local mail deliverer on her rounds. They told the woman they had seen what must be soneone’s dog. “You’re right,” she said and figured she knew just who. She had the story in her notes and owner Marion’s contact information. Marion drove to the scene where a ford to the island was found. Thus was Percy rescued, quite a few pounds lighter than when he disappeared but alive. There are wolves in the area who might like to feast on a lost and domesticated dog.