Suspected thieves led Innisfail RCMP on an early morning high-speed 20-kilometre chase from Spruce View to Sylvan Lake after an ATM (automated teller machine) was violently yanked out from a Caroline fast-food restaurant.
When the drama was over, the suspects managed to slip past pursuing Mounties in Sylvan Lake. The theft of the ATM is the 12th from a business in Central Alberta since June 4, and police across the region are still tracking down the culprits.
“It is possible they are linked. They were in the right area. They were in the vehicle,” said Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Don Morrish. “It was a suspected vehicle. A distinct connection is still under investigation.”
Morrish said at about 2 a.m. on Aug. 17 there was a break and enter at the Burger Baron in Caroline. Although Caroline is in the Rocky Mountain House RCMP jurisdiction the Innisfail detachment was contacted shortly after and asked to be on the lookout for an older model GMC pickup truck.
Morrish said an RCMP cruiser was travelling westbound on Highway 54 when officers encountered a vehicle that matched the description of the one belonging to the Caroline suspects.
Once Mounties turned their vehicle around, the suspects left the area at a high rate of speed said Morrish, estimating that the average speed during the chase was about 145 km/h.
“We proceeded to follow him, chase him. Once lights were activated the vehicle continued to drive away as fast as he could,” he said. “We continued to pursue the vehicle from Highway 54 to Highway 781.”
Morrish said RCMP deployed a spike belt at Highway 781 and the suspect vehicle ran over it, flattening all its tires.
He said the pursuit continued all the way into Sylvan Lake where two males eventually left the vehicle and ran away on foot.
“We set up containment and we were unable to locate either suspect,” said Morrish. He said the vehicle, which was stolen, was a 1998 GMC Sierra pickup truck.
Morrish said the spree of ATM thefts since June has occurred in all corners of the region, including Spruce View, Blackfalds, Rimbey, Stettler, Bashaw, Lacombe, four in Red Deer, and now most recently, in Caroline.
He said in each case the culprits remove the ATM by tying a tow strap around it and then use the stolen vehicle to violently yank it out of the business.
“They are doing major damages to the businesses in most cases,” said Morrish, adding the types of businesses can vary from convenience stores to bars and restaurants. “I don't have the numbers for the money but ATMs are obviously of interest. Some have been empty. Some have had limited amount of money. I don't know if any was substantial. But the damage has definitely been significant.”
If anyone has any information on any of the 12 ATM thefts he or she can contact Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3342 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
