On March 1, 2022, RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (SAD CRU) initiated an investigation into a series of break and enters and ATM thefts at businesses in Southern Alberta. With the assistance from the RCMP Strathcona General Investigation Section, suspects were identified.
On March 24, 2022, Oyen RCMP alerted SAD CRU of an early morning break and enter at the TD Bank where an explosion was used to gain access to the cash in the ATM machine. With the assistance of Hanna and Oyen RCMP, SAD CRU was able to locate three male suspects and three stolen vehicles at a hotel in Hanna, Alberta.
A 42-year-old male of Leduc, Alta., a 41-year-old male of Big Valley, Alta., and a 34-year-old male of Mirror, Alta., were arrested and taken into custody. SAD CRU searched the stolen vehicles and executed two search warrants on the suspects' rooms with the assistance of the RCMP Central Alberta District Crime Unit (CAD CRU), Oyen and Hana RCMP. The following items were seized:
- A significant amount of Canadian currency
- A stolen Dodge Ram from Fort McLeod, Alta.
- A stolen Dodge Durango from Rosetown, Sask.
- A stolen Dodge Ram from Rosetown, Sask.
- Break and Enter tools, including an improvised explosive device (IED) used during the ATM theft in Oyen, Alta.
- Various other stolen items
All three have been charged with the following:
- Break and enter to a business
- Mischief to property causing damage
- Explosion of an explosive device that caused damage to property
- Laundering proceeds of crime
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Possession of break in instruments
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
And further, the 41-year-old male and the 42-year-old male are also charged with the following:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
At the time of their arrest, the 42-year-old male and the 34-year-old male also had outstanding warrants for their arrest.
All three were all held for Judicial Interim Release hearings. The 42-year-old male was remanded into custody and will be appearing in Drumheller Provincial Court on April 22, 2022. The 41-year-old male was remanded into custody and will be appearing in Drumheller Provincial Court on April 8, 2022. The 34-year-old male was a released on a release order with conditions and will be appearing in Hanna Provincial Court on April 27, 2022.
SAD CRU continues to investigate. Anyone with information related to these ATM thefts is asked to contact their local RCMP. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), by Internet at www.tipsubmit.com or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers www.crimestoppers.ab.ca for instructions).