County entrepreneur Phil Primavera said he was enjoying a rare day off with his family when one of his trucks was stolen from the Haliburton Feed & Seed property on Mallard Road June 1.
He was spending time with his kids at the family farm on Eagle Lake right around the time someone targeted a Ford F-350 Primavera was working on at his shop. The vehicle was later recovered burnt out on Hwy. 35 about five kilometres north of Norland, near Boyce Trail.
Primavera said it was the same vehicle he and his wife, Minna Schleifenbaum, bought prior to opening Haliburton Feed and Seed in 2019. At work, he used it for large orders and deliveries. At home, it was one of the family’s primary modes of transportation. Primavera said it was the truck they used carting their daughters and horses to shows across Ontario.
It had been off the road for some time, with Primavera partway through transitioning the vehicle into a farm plow.
He hoped that would save him the $3,000 it costs annually to have someone come in and tend to their land.
Primavera was also hit with a $750 towing bill. Given the vehicle wasn’t insured, he estimates his losses to be between $5,000 $10,000.
The incident is being investigated by Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Highlands OPP. As of press time June 11, no charges had been laid.
Cst. Rob Adams with the Highlands detachment confirmed CKL officers found the vehicle shortly after 6 a.m. on June 2 after neighbours reported the fire. Primavera said he initially assumed someone had stolen his plates and put them on a different vehicle as he didn’t think his Ford would run.
“It had something like three injectors missing from the motor, so I’m amazed it made it to Norland,” he said.
Cameras on the Haliburton Feed & Seed Property captured the perpetrator, while Primavera said he heard from multiple people who witnessed the alleged thief leaving Haliburton village in the truck that afternoon. He claims to know the identity and has submitted evidence to police.
“Someone well-known to local authorities… for previous vehicle thefts, without a driver’s licence, and under
suspension,” Primavera alleged.
Primavera said other businesses in the industrial park, such as Petrini Construction and Hawk River Construction, have been hit in recent years, while claiming the Haliburton landfill routinely has unwelcome visitors after hours. On the other side of town, the Haliburton Golf Centre was broken into overnight June 3.
“We are disheartened to have to make this call out, however the pro shop was broken into… resulting in theft and damages to our ball machine and shop,” owner Andy MacMillan posted to social media.
Primavera said this is the sort of thing he came to Haliburton County to avoid.
“It’s the broken trust, really, that’s the worst thing. This sort of thing is happening more and more, and I think it’s something we need to have a wider conversation about. Is this what we want? We should expect better from people, as a community hold those who are actively spitting in our faces accountable.
“That doesn’t mean [becoming a vigilante] or anything crazy, but I think we are within our rights as productive members of society to shine a light on this, talk about it and come up with solutions. I don’t want Haliburton County to keep sliding on this slippery path it’s on,” Primavera said.
