RCMP investigating string of break-ins, ATM thefts in west Saskatchewan

RCMP officers are investigating a string of thefts from western Saskatchewan, and police say the incidents may be related.

The first incident happened July 3, when police responded to an alarm at a business north of Leader and found a thief or thieves had broken in and stolen “a sum of coins.”

Three days later, officers got a report of a break-in at a business in Burstall where the suspects stole an ATM, cash, cigarettes and a brass till. The ATM was found west of Burstall later that same day, empty of cash.

“The suspects appear to be male,” the RCMP said in a statement. “One was wearing tight light blue jeans and grey loafer-like shoes with white shoelaces. The other was wearing light-coloured cargo pants with a dark sweater, as well as a baseball cap with glasses resting on the rim of the hat. Both suspects had their faces covered by balaclavas and were wearing gloves, possibly welding gloves. They were driving a black Chevrolet Avalanche.”

The latest incident happened Saturday in Eatonia, the RCMP said, when an unknown man damaged the exterior wall of a business, broke in, and made off with the ATM, the cash inside it, and cigarettes. Part of that ATM was recovered north of Eatonia the same day, after it had been emptied of cash.

“The male was wearing a face covering and was wearing light-coloured gloves, possibly welding gloves,” police said in a statement. “The suspect was also driving a black Chevrolet Avalanche.”

Officers from the Kindersley and Leader RCMP detachments are investigating the break-ins and thefts, and asked anyone with information that could help identify the suspects to contact police or Crime Stoppers.