Thieves break into Edmonton animal rescue, steal cash and branded van: AARCS

Editor’s note: AARCS recovered their van on Sunday. They noted on social media that it was missing its catalytic converter.

A non-profit animal rescue in Edmonton is trying hard to look for the silver lining after robbers stole its transport van, electronics, and cash in a break-in Saturday morning.

Three thieves reportedly broke into the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society’s North Haven shelter in southeast Edmonton.

After stealing several items – with much of it caught on surveillance video – they found a spare key and made off in the branded Edmonton AARCS transit van.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s really, really sad,” said Leigh Mclean, the Edmonton operations manager for AARCS.

Speaking to CityNews the day after the robbery, Mclean was focusing on the positives.

“Our first check obviously was to make sure all of the animals were OK,” said Mclean. “Luckily everybody was accounted for and OK, so that was really, really great.

“What rescues tend to have that is high value is people’s animals. It was really heartwarming for us to know that the animals were not the motivation for this, which is a good thing.

“It’s still really sad that these individuals felt that they could and wanted to come in and take what we had. But we can replace stuff; we can’t replace somebody’s animal.”

We’re sad to report thieves stole #AARCS’ animal transport van this morning at our Edmonton shelter. They also stole computers, tablets, petty cash and a credit card which they then used at a gas station northeast of #yeg.
We are heartbroken about this – we need this van! pic.twitter.com/5XE2qWZXce

— AARCS – Rescue ???? (@AARCS_Canada) June 10, 2023

Edmonton police could not reveal many details to CityNews as investigators were in the “early stages of the investigation.” They did confirm officers responded to a reported break and enter at the North Haven shelter on 81 Street and Coronet Road at 8:30 a.m.

Mclean says the three thieves forced the side door open from the shelter’s east parking lot.

“They came in, went through desks, offices, and our front reception desk,” said Mclean. “They did take a number of laptops, cash, gift cards, tablets, donations jar with cash in it, which was very unfortunate. And they also found the spare keys to our transport van.

“They did take the transport van, and drove it through out closed and locked gate, so that is obviously a problem.”

AARCS reported the branded van – with the licence plate CJF5422 – stolen, and hopes it will be recovered soon.

“A big part of what we do is making sure our animals can be transported,” added Mclean. “And it really affects our capability to do the work we do without that van.”

The shelter says surveillance cameras caught most of the robbers’ movements, but the “power was cut” to cameras once they moved into the reception area.

AARCS did release still images of the three suspects – they all covered their faces with masks. One wore a black and white Toronto Raptors hoodie; a second was dressed in what appears to be a one-piece pyjama and a black cap; the third wore a sleeveless shirt with a red cap.

“From the videos that we have on our security videos, it seems the individuals have done this a number of times,” suggested Mclean. “They came in fairly prepared. Their faces were covered, they carried a screwdriver to open desk drawers and offices, and they also carried empty bags and backpacks.”

Despite feeling thankful the animals were all unharmed, Mclean couldn’t help but feel saddened and frustrated that a charity organization would be broken into.

“Obviously we never want to see break-ins at places like this,” said Mclean. “We are a non-profit, we are a charity. And it’s always really sad when something like this happens. A lot of the time, rescues don’t have a lot of cash on hand. They don’t have really expensive electronics like what people might be looking for.

“It’s still very violating to have someone come into the shelter. Especially because a lot of the animals that come into our care, they don’t have a home. They don’t have anyone to care for them other than us, and our volunteers and our supporters.”