More than 100 charges have been laid in connection with a string of ATM and vehicle thefts across Saskatchewan, including an incident that occurred in Shaunavon.
A Saskatoon RCMP officer responded to a report of an alarm at a business on the morning of Nov. 18, 2023, and arrived to see a severely damaged door and a heavy-duty chain.
Investigation determined that a vehicle pulled up to the business, suspects broke into the building, affixed the chain to an ATM inside of it and used the vehicle to pull it out and steal it, along with approximately $20,000 worth of cigarettes. The ATM was later located in a field not far away.
That was one of several ATM thefts that occurred in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction last year.
“As our provincial police service, Saskatchewan RCMP is uniquely outfitted to make links between, and investigate, crimes in multiple jurisdictions,” said Ashley Levy, Saskatchewan RCMP’s Central District Operations Officer, in a media release. “That’s exactly what happened in this case – Saskatoon RCMP took the lead in investigating a potential string of crimes, with the assistance of many other RCMP detachments and specialized units.”
Saskatchewan RCMP’s Forensic Identification Services, General Investigation Section and Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team assisted in this case.
Officers continued to investigate by analyzing evidence, including surveillance video taken at scenes of crimes.
And on March 9, 2024, officers arrested an adult male on Highway #11, south of Saskatoon.
Wesley John from Saskatoon was charged with 12 offences, including break and enter and possession of property obtained by crime. The 58-year-old was also found to be breaching a conditional sentence order.
Officers continued to investigate after his arrest and determined that more than 20 incidents that were reported to police throughout Saskatchewan were connected. They included six ATM thefts and many thefts of motor vehicles.
On Aug. 1, officers executed a search warrant at a residence on One Arrow First Nation. An adult male was arrested there.
As a result of continued investigation, Wesley John and 49-year-old Kelly Almightyvoice from One Arrow First Nation have each been charged with 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.
Wesley John is next scheduled to appear in court in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Aug. 29, while Kelly Almightyvoice appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court on Aug. 21.
“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,” added Levy. “Together, they have solved more than 20 property crimes that affected victims throughout Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction.”