Two suspects now in custody for string of ATM, auto thefts in Saskatchewan
By Medicine Hat News on August 27, 2024.
@MedicineHatNews Two men from northern Saskatchewan face dozens of charges relating to ATM and auto thefts over the past year, including one in Shaunavon. RCMP say the men used heavy chains to pull cash machines out of businesses and would also take cigarettes and merchandise before accessing the cash and dumping the machines in rural areas. Police investigators linked 20 such thefts beginning in 2023, and as the result of security camera footage, Wesley John, 58, from Saskatoon, was arrested and charged in March. Further investigation led to the arrest of Kelly Almightyvoice, 49, of the One Arrow First Nation on Aug. 1, police announced late last week. Almightyvoice appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court of Aug. 21 to face 24 counts of break and enter, 12 counts of possession of the proceeds of crime and 14 counts of wearing a disguise while committing an offence. John is charged due to appear in court Aug. 29 to answer to a similar list of charges. “I’m proud of the work of Saskatoon RCMP investigators and the many other police officers and staff from across the division who came together and were able to prove these crimes were connected – and identify the suspects,” Insp. Ashley Levy, Saskatchewan RCMP’s central district operations officer, said in a release. “Together, they have solved more than 20 property crimes that affected victims throughout Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.” Also involved were officers from the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Forensic Identification Services, General Investigation Section and Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team. The charges refer to thefts in Shaunavon, Warman, Saskatoon, Humboldt, Allan, Colonsay, Young, four in outlying communities near and including Weyburn, Wadena and Tisdale. The burglary in Shaunavon occurred Dec. 30, 2023, involving a stolen GMC pickup truck. It occurred two weeks after a stolen front-end loader was used to destroy a wall at a credit union in Burstall, though RCMP have not announced a conclusion to that incident. 13-12
