ATM theft from O'Leary store 'disappointing' says owner

An ATM stolen from a convenience store in the small community of O'Leary has been recovered minus the approximately $1,000 it contained but the store owner is hopeful that video footage will identify the culprits.

• ATM stolen from O'Leary Kwik-Way

Joel Brennan has owned the O'Leary Kwik-Way for 20 years and calls the theft "disappointing."

"Sunday morning someone broke the front window and stole our bank machine located only about four feet away from the window, that was bolted to the floor," Brennan told CBC News, estimating the job would have taken about five minutes and required more than one person.

"I would guess it was with a truck. Likely reached in, tied a rope around the bank machine, gave it a quick jerk," Brennan said, noting four bolts that anchored the machine to the cement floor were pulled out.

The ATM has since been located in the woods at the end of a dirt road close to West Devon, about 15 kilometres from O'Leary, Brennan said discovered by hunters looking for partridge.

$6,500 in damage to get$1,000

There were two steel doors and multiple combination locks on the ATM, but Brennan said thieves managed to access the $1,000 it contained a process he believes would have taken about half an hour.

"I would guess from the looks of the machine, some crowbars or sledge hammers," were used,he said.

The ATM, worth about $5,000, will have to be replaced. The Kwik-Way sustained about $1,500 in damage, said Brennan for which he has entered an insurance claim.

"It's disappointing to have that happen in this area, because we consider ourselves to be a safe little community," added Brennan, who said he hopes the thieves are caught soon with the help of video footage from the Kwik-Way and other nearby businesses.

RCMP said Tuesday the theft is still under investigation.

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