Crime strikes Castor, Halkirk

Coronation RCMP are investigating a weekend crime spree that included a bank machine lifted from Halkirk Hotel and dragged down the highway and a big-screen TV that was up for raffle stolen from Castor Arena.

RCMP say the crimes don’t appear to be connected, but are investigating possible connections to 11 similar break-and-enter incidents in the region since Christmas, with the assistance of DNA, fingerprints and tread patterns obtained from the different scenes.

“It’s an entirely different MO,” said Const. Zac MacMillan. “In Castor, they stole a television and a lot of food. In Halkirk, they didn’t touch the booze or the food, and just went for the cash in the ATM.”

Police said it appears the Halkirk robbery wasn’t committed by locals, but that the Castor break-in might have been.

Halkirk Hotel sustained a broken window and a smashed in door, after thieves entered the premises and somehow managed to pry the ATM machine from the floor it was bolted to.

Owner Leona Robertson said it’s apparent the thieves were unsuccessful in trying to get the machine out the window, and instead dragged it out the door and down the highway a few kilometres north of town. Robertson and a friend followed the tracks in the morning and located the machine hidden in a field, with the money still inside.

“We just followed the tracks right to it,” she said. “But you can’t get into that steel short of dynamite, practically.”

Robertson was able to retrieve the cash, but will have to pay for the machine that is expected to cost close to $4,000. Other damage included thousands of dollars to replace the door and window.

“There’s not much in the little hometown ATMs,” she said. “And these (people) have to know we’re a little country town and we do not stock $30,000 in those machines. There could be $20 in it, there could be $100 in it.”

“They’re doing all this BS for nothing, basically.”

No alcohol or cash was stolen in the break-in.

Five months ago, Halkirk Hotel was also broken into on the night of the Halkirk Bull-a-rama in late August.

In Castor last weekend, thieves gained access to the arena and concession stand by a window in the bay area.

Rink manager Leo Bozek said the robbers made off with tools, a garbage can they filled with chocolate bars, wings and other foodstuffs and a big-screen TV local hockey players were selling tickets on to raise funds for arena improvements.

Bozek estimated the total value of the stolen goods to be more than $1,000.

“It’s a nuisance,” he said. “We don’t keep cash on the premises, so I don’t know why they even bother.”

Castor recreation director Loreena MacGillivray said the TV will be replaced by local hockey family Norman and Tamina Miller. Sales of the tickets have been solid, she added, with all proceeds going to the arena improvement fund.

The Cosmopolitan was also the target of an attempted break-and-enter early Sunday morning, but the sounding alarm deterred the thieves, police said.

The break-in at the arena comes a week after a similar break-and-enter at the local curling club, where thieves made off with a few hundred dollars.

Bozek said the town plans to install surveillance cameras to monitor in and around the arena, which was last broken into a couple years ago.

“We hope they know it’ll be on camera from now on,” he said.

Robertson said she’ll be looking into improved security measures as well, which will likely include a new security system and shutters over the doors and windows.

“It’s a pain,” she said.

RCMP are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to contact Coronation RCMP at 403-578-3666.