Skip to content

Curious citizen helps nab ATM thieves

Saanich man and Esquimalt man face serious theft charges in one of Victoria's largest theft files of 2013

An observant witness helped lead Victoria police to a stolen ATM while the thieves were in the midst of breaking the machine open.

Yesterday around 8:45 a.m., the witness noticed two suspicious-looking men loading a heavy object into a car. When questioned, the men said they were moving a filing cabinet.

"Suspicious of their claims, the licence plate was recorded by the citizen. This evidence was turned over to the officer," said VicPD Const. Mike Russell.

Officers traced the vehicle to a residence in the 2500-block of Wark St., and began hearing loud noises.

When they investigated, they found two men drilling into an ATM machine in a shed.

A 47-year-old Saanich man and 26-year-old Esquimalt man are being held on theft-related charges. The Esquimalt man also faces a drug possession charge.

Sgt. Colin Brown with VicPD's Crime Reduction Unit thanked the "quick-thinking citizen" for helping to solve one of the largest theft files on VicPD's books in 2013.

"(The licence plate) was the key piece of information that allowed us to progress with this file," Brown said.

Watch VicPD's press conference footage here.