Three central Alberta suspects are facing a slew of charges related to vehicle and ATM thefts in the southern Alberta district, including the use of an explosive device that damaged property.
On March 1, RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (SAD CRU) initiated an investigation into a series of break and enters and ATM thefts at businesses in southern Alberta. With the assistance from the RCMP Strathcona General Investigation Section, suspects were identified.
On March 24, Oyen RCMP alerted SAD CRU of an early morning break and enter at the TD Bank where an explosion was used to gain access to the cash in the ATM machine.
With the assistance of Hanna and Oyen RCMP, SAD CRU was able to locate three male suspects and three stolen vehicles at a hotel in Hanna, Alberta.
Kevin Sider, 42, of Leduc, Robert Foster, 41, of Big Valley and Leslie Asachuk, 34, of Mirror, were arrested and taken into custody.
SAD CRU searched the stolen vehicles and executed two search warrants on the suspect’s rooms with the assistance of the RCMP Central Alberta District Crime Unit (CAD CRU), Oyen and Hana RCMP.
The following items were seized:
· Over $130,000 Canadian currency;
· a stolen Dodge Ram from Fort McLeod;
· a stolen Dodge Durango from Rosetown, Sask.;
· a stolen Dodge Ram from Rosetown, Sask.;
· break and enter tools, including an improvised explosive device (IED) used during the ATM theft in Oyen, and
· various other stolen items.
Sider, Foster and Asachuk have been charged with the following:
· break and enter to a business;
· mischief to property causing damage;
· explosion of an explosive device that caused damage to property;
· laundering proceeds of crime;
· possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
· possession of break in instruments, and
· possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
And further, Sider and Foster are also charged with:
· possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
At the time of their arrest, Sider and Asachuk also had outstanding warrants for their arrest.
Sider, Foster and Asachuk were all held for Judicial Interim Release hearings.
Sider was remanded into custody and will be appearing in Drumheller Provincial Court on April 22.
Foster was remanded into custody and will be appearing in Drumheller Provincial Court on April 8.
Asachuk was released on a release order with conditions and will be appearing in Hanna Provincial Court on April 27.
SAD CRU continues to investigate. Anyone with information related to these ATM thefts is asked to contact their local RCMP.
If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), by Internet at www.tipsubmit.com or by SMS (check your local Crime Stoppers www.crimestoppers.ab.ca for instructions).