ATM theft investigation leads to province-wide police operation

What started off as an investigation into theft from an Oshawa ATM turned into an investigation across southern Ontario.

The investigation got underway July 17, when police were called for a break and enter at Campus Ice Sports on Simcoe Street North. According to police, two masked suspects were caught on video breaking in and prying open a stand-alone ATM. The same suspects were linked to three more incidents in Durham Region, including at a gas station on Highway 35/115 that was broken into and had a safe stolen and an ATM being forced open at the Newcastle Pool Complex. In both cases, the phone lines had been cut.

Another investigation was launched after it was discovered the phone lines to the Legends Centre had been cut as well.

These incidents lead to the launch of Project Echo, which determined that these suspects were involved in incidents across southern Ontario, including Kingston, Alliston, Schomburg, Waterloo Region and Niagara Region.

A search warrant was executed at a residence in London on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Two suspects were arrested, and police recovered cash, break-in tools, a money-counting machine, two vehicles, an ATV and two safes.

A 57-year-old male and a 48-year-old male, both of Langton Road in London, are facing a combined 59 charges, including break and enter, mischief under $5,000, possession of break-in tools and disguise with intent.

Along with DRPS, this operation included police from Kingston, London, Sarnia, Niagara Region, Sudbury, Waterloo, the Techumseth detachment of the OPP and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.