Thieves steal cash, electronics from Edmonton animal rescue

Edmonton Police are investigating after security camera footage shows two women taking a safe from this south Edmonton animal shelter. Hear from organizers on how this impacts animals in need.

Organizers at a south side animal rescue say they’re out $1,200 in cash after a brazen daytime theft, which was caught on security camera footage.

“We had about $1,200 in cash and cheques in there. We also had a corporate credit card, as well as a Moneris machine — which is a point of sales machine — as well as some adoption tablets and other odds and ends we had in there,” explained Leigh Melligan, the operations manager of the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) in Edmonton.

Melligan says video footage from Wednesday shows two women inside the south Edmonton animal rescue, later leaving with a safe while staff were busy attending to animals in the back.

Advertisement

“The two ladies came into the building, sort of wandered around a little bit and seemed to look like they clocked in to that the door was open on our closet. In about the span of three minutes or so they were able to go into the room, take the safe and exit the building.”

Thankfully those were the only items taken, Melligan confirmed no animals were hurt.

Edmonton police shared surveillance images of the two suspects.

The first is described as having brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing sunglasses on her head, a grey hoodie, a black crossbody bag, ripped blue jeans and black shoes.

The second suspect is described as having dark brown or black hair. She was wearing a black jacket with white stripes on the arms and blue jeans.

Advertisement
Edmonton police released images of two suspects in connection with a theft at AARCS. (Courtesy: Edmonton Police Service)

Police say after the alleged theft, both suspects fled in an older model silver Nissan Pathfinder.

Edmonton police say the AARCS suspects fled in a Nissan Pathfinder. (Courtesy:: Edmonton Police Service)

Melligan says since the shelter posted about the theft on social media, the community has stepped up with donations. But adds the theft ultimately impacts the animals they try to save.

“The programs that we run and the animals help are always there, and it’s really challenging when we have situations like this, because we’re always trying to help and do more.”

Police say anyone with information on the suspects can contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.