The Halton Regional Police Service is investigating two thefts of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in Oakville.
On January 18, 2019, at about 5:30 a.m., three suspects in an older model pickup truck pulled up to the front doors of the Sobey's Store at 2441 Lakeshore Road West.
One of the suspects pried open the sliding door which provided access to the front vestibule of the store in which an ATM was located.
The two other suspects then tied a chain (hooked up to the pickup truck) around the ATM, and the driver then accelerated, hauling the ATM through the doors of the store. The suspects then loaded the ATM into the bed of the truck before making their escape.
The second incident occurred on January 24, 2019 at about 3:30 a.m. Three suspects in a pickup truck attended the ‘Film.Ca Cinemas’ movie theatre at #25-171 Speers Road and applied the same technique.
Suspects' Descriptions
Suspect 1: Male, black balaclava, blue hoodie, brown pants, brown boots, white gloves.
Suspect 2: Male, black balaclava, blue plaid jacket, black pants, black shoes with white soles, blue gloves.
Suspect 3: Male, black balaclava, dark jacket over bright orange hoodie, black pants, tan work boots, black gloves.
Vehicle: 2004 to 2007 Ford F250, 4-door crew cab, two-tone - green with tan trim, winter rims, no tonneau cover.
The Halton Regional Police Service will not be disclosing the value of these ATMs or their contents, as the investigation is ongoing at this time.
Anyone with information contact contact D/Cst. Ross Amore at the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905 825-4747 ext. 2246.
Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers "See Something? Hear Something? Know Something?" Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
ATM Theft Prevention Tips
Business owners: If you don’t need an ATM, don’t have one. If you must have a machine at your place of business consider the following theft prevention tips:
- If possible, place the machine in an area of the store that is not easily accessible or visible from a door or window
- Maintain machine with a least amount of currency
- Equip the machine with GPS tracking devices
- Make sure video surveillance systems are updated, in working order, and positioned to capture the interior and exterior of the business;
- Consider installing bollards and or concrete curbs outside windows and doors to block vehicles;
- Remove any extra signs on windows and doors to give potential witnesses a better view inside the store
- Use exterior lighting to give potential witnesses a clear view
Community safety is a shared responsibility. If members of the public witness suspicious activity, they are encouraged to report it to police.