Surveillance photo from a break and enter in the Rabbit Lake region. (submitted photo)

By Angela Brown

RCMP investigation

Rural business owners concerned by rash of break and enters

Jan 20, 2020 | 5:55 PM

After 10 break and enters occurred Friday apparently by the same suspects in the Blaine Lake and Spiritwood area, business owners are sharing their concerns.

According to an RCMP advisory report, break and enters were reported in Blaine Lake, Leask, Hafford, Shell Lake and Rabbit Lake, at the following locations: Shell Lake General Store, Shell Lake Post Office, Rabbit Lake Post Office and R.M. Office, Blaine Lake Post Office, Hafford Post Office, Hafford Rink, Hafford Rack, Leask Mart, and Leask Pharmacy.

R.M. of Round Hill Administrator Christina Moore said the suspects broke into the R.M. office in Rabbit Lake around 5 a.m. on Friday. She said they stole a laptop, cash and shop tools estimated at about $2,000 in total.

While the R.M. has surveillance cameras inside the building, Moore said staff will install cameras outside the building along with an alarm system to increase security.

“We share the building with Canada Post so [the suspects] were probably after Canada Post. It was probably just a bonus when they came here,” she said.

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Moore said it was “terrifying” when she discovered the break-in.

Surveillance photo from a break and enter in the Rabbit Lake region. (submitted photo)

Blaine Lake RCMP Sgt. Aaron Kading said it’s uncommon to have so many break and enters over such a short period of time.

“That’s definitely a lot,” he said.

Kading said an estimated total value from all the thefts from the many locations impacted is still being determined.

“We’re in the midst of getting all the reports from all the complainants and all the victims to see exactly what was stolen,” he said.

Kading said the RCMP encourages the public to contact Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers if they have any information.

“Every single tip we receive is investigated and looked into,” Kading said. “The more information we get the better.”

Shell Lake General Store co-owner Joy Ardagh said the incident shook her up when the suspects showed up at her store around 4 a.m. Friday.

Cigarettes worth $2,500 were stolen.

Ardagh said she and her husband nearly collided with the suspects’ vehicle when they were travelling to the store to respond to its alarm system.

Ardagh said it appeared they worked quickly to smash and grab what they wanted.

“They had already left by the time we got here. They were fast — in and out,” Ardagh said. “We had seen the vehicle go flying to the West of the store. Then, when we crossed the intersection, they were coming back going East.”

She estimated the suspects’ vehicle speed was about 60 or 70 km/h.

“They were going right through the stop signs and everything,” Ardagh said.

The incident has left her feeling frustrated about how to stop thieves.

“You have steel doors, cages [for protection]. What else can you do?” Ardagh said. “Obviously they are professionals; they staked it out.”

Leask Mart employee Kyuyong Jo said he is aware the culprits stole cigarettes and cash during the break and enter around 3 a.m. Friday.

He said the store’s employees were a little upset about the incident and now just want to see everything return back to normal.

Police reported they believe the same suspect may be responsible for all 10 break and enters. They are looking for a small grey or silver SUV hatchback vehicle.

If anyone has any information they are asked to call Saskatchewan RCMP.

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Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 21 to include more information and photos obtained from Christina Moore and information from Sgt. Aaron Kading.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow