ATM theft leaves SMHA out in the cold

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

The Grinch stole Christmas from the Strathmore Minor Hockey Association on Dec. 25.
At about 8:30 a.m. on Christmas day, the association’s ATM was ripped out of the Strathmore Family Centre. And although video clearly shows the theft, the thieves got away before police were notified.
According to Kevin Crawford, Strathmore Family Centre manager, the theft was caught on camera and took about 1.5 hours.
“They broke in the front door, and using chains and a tie-rope, they pulled the ATM out of the building,” he said. “There was a lot of evidence left at the scene, and police are investigating.” Crawford added the truck used in the theft was stolen from Calgary.
“I have been manager of the Family Centre for about four years, and this is the first theft I have had in about 20-plus years working in recreation,” said Crawford.
What makes the theft even more painful is the fact that the ATM machine itself is owned and operated by Strathmore Minor Hockey Association (SMHA). The association’s money is loaded into the machine, and when users withdraw money, they pay a service fee, which goes to minor hockey.
Chad Moskal, president of SMHA, says the money made from the machine’s use is used to pay for ice time, player development and coach’s clinics, as well as to fund jerseys for association players.
In an interview with CTV News, Moskal said the association made anywhere between $7,000 and $10,000 per year from the ATM machine.
The theft is one of many that has taken place around the province over the past several months. In southern Alberta on Jan. 7, thieves broke into the Crossfield Shell station after smashing the window of the front door. They then tied tow ropes to the ATM, connected the other end to a white Ford Econoline 15-passenger van and drove away, causing significant damage to the interior and exterior of the gas station. The ATM taken contained an undisclosed amount of money.
Just after midnight on Jan. 5, thieves stole a bank machine out of a drugstore in the southwest Calgary community of Strathcona. Three individuals broke into the Rexall Pharmacy using a crowbar to pry open the doors. Once inside, they wrapped a chain around the bank machine and used a vehicle to pull it out of the front entrance.
On Jan. 1 in Okotoks, thieves attempted to steal an ATM from Okotoks Rec Centre. A man driving an older white van broke into the centre at about 9:30 p.m., causing damage to the front doors. He was unable to remove the ATM however, according to police.