Two men used a crowbar and saw to open up an ATM at a Waterloo grocery store and steal cash from inside.
The heist occurred shortly before 4:30 a.m. Monday at the Sobeys at Weber Street and Northfield Drive.
The store had yet to open for business, but according to police, its door was unlocked for employees arriving to prepare for opening.
After the men entered the building, they began using a saw to cut open the ATM.
A store employee noticed and confronted the men, only to be threatened with a crowbar.
“The witness retreated and called police. During that time, two trays of cash were taken from the ATM,” said Waterloo Regional Police Staff Sgt. Shaena Morris.
“Maybe this person wasn’t aware of what was going on, but they did the right thing in retreating immediately, calling 911 and having police respond.”
The thieves left the store in a white pickup truck later determined to have been stolen.
Michelle MacFarlane, an employee at the store, says she was worried when she arrived to find police tape outside.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking, but everybody seems to be OK,” she said.
Police describe the suspects as men, possibly in their 40s.
One is described as 5’8” with light skin and a slim build, wearing khaki pants and holding a crowbar.
The other is said to be darker-skinned with a slim build, hooded sweatshirt and possibly a construction shirt.
“They were also wearing bandanas to shield their (faces) from the cameras,” said Morris.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-650-8500 ext. 6340 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
