Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
The Royal Canadian Legion is the latest crime victim in Oliver.
RCMP report that someone broke into the Legion early Wednesday morning and damaged an ATM and safe in an attempt to steal their contents, but no access was gained.
Detachment commander Sgt. Don Wrigglesworth said the culprit entered the Legion through a vent system after a padlock to a storage area was smashed. He noted the motion alarm was activated at approximately 4:20 a.m. but police were not notified until 7:30 a.m.
Wrigglesworth said their initial investigation showed that approximately $150 was taken from a cash float.
No suspects have been identified yet.
Wrigglesworth said it’s not Lloyd John Baptiste who is still in custody facing charges for commercial break-ins that occurred in Oliver on Feb. 5. Police believe he is also responsible for a string of break-ins that plagued the community last fall.
In the Legion break-in, the commander said there was some miscommunication between the alarm company and the property representative, resulting in a delay in the police investigation.
“It is also disheartening because of the disrespect shown to our veterans by desecrating a legion,” Wrigglesworth said.
He said that neighbourhood enquiries and surveillance video have produced some leads, and the Forensic Identification Section processed the scene with further evidence obtained.
