A brazen late afternoon break and enter at a Sundre-area farm led to thieves taking firearms and jewelry, among other possessions.
On Tuesday, March 8, police responded to the report of a break, enter and theft at a rural residence several kilometres northeast of Sundre. A variety of firearms were taken as well as jewelry and other possessions, including the homeowner's pickup truck, the Sundre RCMP detachment said in a press release.
"I was in and out all day," said Jim Bartholow, who owns the property with his wife Nita, during a phone interview with the Round Up on Thursday, March 10.
No one was home at the time of the break-in. Bartholow said he had left at about 2:30 p.m. to pick up his eight-year-old granddaughter. They returned home at about 4:10 p.m., only to find the home and garage broken into, he said, adding he then called the RCMP, which responded right away.
The property is equipped with video surveillance, and the culprits were caught on video leaving the residence at 4:01 p.m., he said.
Upon arriving at home, Bartholow said he knew the minute he drove up that the property had been broken into when he saw the garage open and his truck gone. His granddaughter was worried her quad had been among the items stolen, but was relieved to find it where she'd left it.
"She was quite happy about that," he said.
However, she was saddened to discover that a rifle he'd bought her was among the firearms stolen, he said.
The suspects did not drive onto the property ó the thieves were dropped off on the road and they then proceeded to walk through the bush into the yard before breaking into the home through a basement door in the back. Once access to the residence had been gained, the culprits broke open a secure door to a room storing the firearms, he said.
"They just destroyed the door," he said.
"I'm kind of thinking it's somebody that's been in my house before ó they knew where everything was."
The house has three bedrooms in the basement, one of which was converted into a secure storage room for a collection of firearms, which includes rifles, shotguns and handguns as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition. That was the only room the thieves broke into, he said.
"I kind of think they knew where it was at."
The thieves were also able to gain access to the garage, where his pickup truck's keys were hanging. He said they used his truck to load up some possessions before heading off. The forensics investigators told him the suspects were likely gone within 10 minutes.
"They didn't wreck anything other than the door going into my gunroom," he said, adding that while they made a bit of a mess rifling through drawers, there was no extensive damage to the house.
Although Bartholow was still working on a list of items that were stolen for the RCMP when he spoke with the Round Up, he said about $80,000 worth of guns and an additional $100,000 worth of jewelry were stolen.
Investigators were able to confirm that approximately 35 long-barrelled firearms, as well as 15 handguns, were taken from the secured room, officials said. The culprits also grabbed thousands of rounds of ammunition, said Bartholow.
After calling the RCMP, Bartholow said he contacted OnStar, and his truck was tracked down about six kilometres north of the property.
"There was nothing left in the truck," he said, adding police did find some loose rounds that had been dropped in the transfer.
Witnesses reported that a newer model blue pickup truck, jacked up with big tires and a blue tarp in the box, was seen in the area of the residence around the time of the break, enter and theft, said police.
As with any instance wherein firearms have been stolen, police are very concerned for the safety of the public and are interested in hearing from anyone with information regarding this crime.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call the Sundre RCMP Detachment at 403-638-3675. Those who wish to remain anonymous 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).
"You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest(s), the recovery of stolen property, and/or a seizure of illicit drugs, you might be eligible for a cash reward," said police.
Although Bartholow seemed in good spirits considering the circumstances, he told the Round Up he was frustrated because it was the third time in more than a year that his property had been targeted. However, in the previous two occurrences, thieves had only gained access to his garage and his wife's sewing room, but not the house, he said.
Instead of keeping all his guns in his secured room, which he planned to repair right away, Bartholow said he'd now be keeping one by his bed.
"You get a little pissed after a while."
