RCMP are investigating a failed attempt to break into an an ATM machine in north Nanaimo.
Police were alerted by an alarm from the Scotiabank in Nored Plaza when a man smashed a window to get into the building at about 1:20 a.m. Monday and then forced open a door to a room directly behind the bank’s ATM machines.
Security surveillance showed a man with his face concealed, carrying a duffel bag, who pulled out an acetylene torch and tried unsuccessfully for several minutes to cut open one of the machines before fleeing the scene.
Police describe the suspect as a man, about 5′ 10″ with a stocky build, who wore a cloth over the lower part of his face, dark clothing and carried a top-opening duffel bag containing an acetylene torch.
“He didn’t have any welding goggles on, so he may have got some flash burns,” said. Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.
