SUNDRE — Mounties are turning to the public for help identifying three armed suspects involved in a brazen, broad daylight home invasion.
Just before noon yesterday (Wednesday, Dec. 1), Sundre RCMP responded to a report of a home invasion in the town’s northwest residential area at Sundre Mobile Estates.
“The investigation revealed that three suspects armed with weapons forcibly entered a residence,” reads a portion of a press statement released this afternoon (Dec. 2).
Two occupants who were in the home at the time — one male and one female — were robbed of their possessions, including a pellet pistol as well as a pellet rifle.
“The victims were not physically harmed,” reported police.
The suspects proceeded to flee the scene in a black 2016 Hyundai Elantra that they stole from the victims, police said.
Shortly after at approximately 12:10 p.m., responding officers from the Olds RCMP detachment located the stolen vehicle travelling eastbound on Highway 27 toward Olds. The vehicle was subsequently found abandoned near a restaurant in the area of 50th Avenue and 46th Street, or Highway 27, in Olds, police said.
A substantial police operation involved establishing a containment perimeter in the area the vehicle was recovered, prompting the RCMP at the time to ask the public avoid the area until further notice, and RCMP Police Dog Services as well as the Emergency Response Team attended.
However, the suspects were not located as they fled the area in a second vehicle, police said.
Upon conducting a search of the stolen vehicle, officers reportedly recovered a shotgun, knife, as well as the stolen pellet rifle.
“Further investigation revealed surveillance video in the area of the home invasion in Sundre that showed a silver F-150 arrive just prior to the incident and then depart with the stolen Hyundai Elantra.”
Sundre RCMP are asking any members of the public who reside in the area of Sundre Mobile Estates and who have home security video cameras to review their surveillance footage between the times of 11 a.m. and noon.
Additionally, Olds residents who live in the vicinity of 50th Avenue and 46th Street are also asked to review any surveillance footage they might have from between the times of 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m. to determine whether a black 2016 Hyundai Elantra or silver Ford F-150 were caught on video.
Police are also asking if anyone is able to identify the silver F-150, which is described as having black wheels, a black Tonneau cover as well as decals on each side of the back window.
One of the male suspects is described as approximately 5’5” tall with a light complexion, while the other two are described as very tall and skinny with dark complexions.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sundre RCMP at 403-638-3655, the Olds RCMP at 403-556-3323, or their local detachment. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), submit information online at www.p3tips.com, or use the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play store.
