West Shore RCMP is asking for the public's help in identifying two suspects involved in a smash and grab ATM theft at the Shell gas station on West Shore Parkway near the Trans-Canada Highway in Langford.
Police responded to an alarm at approximately 2:30 a.m. Monday and found the store front had been heavily damaged.
"It's a very chaotic scene," said Const. Alex Berube, the detachment's spokesperson. "It was a good thing (the store) was empty."
Video surveillance shows a white Ford F250 truck smashing in reverse through the storefront and into the back of the store. Two suspects – believed to be male – proceed to dislodge the machine from the back wall and load it into the truck bed. The ATM contained an undisclosed amount of cash.
"It was very well planned," Berube said, adding, "they seemed to know what they were doing."
The truck was located in Goldstream Provincial Park later Monday morning and it was confirmed the vehicle had been stolen from the Shawnigan Lake area. The ATM was also located in the area but had been emptied.
Police ask anyone with information to contact West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Information provided that leads to an arrest could be eligible for a cash reward.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com