Suspects target cash registers in Angus smash-and-grabs

Series of break-ins under investigation in Angus Police are investigating a series of break and enters in Essa Township.

Two men are believed to be responsible for several business break-and-enters that started on New Years Eve day in Angus.

Several surveillance cameras captured the duo believed to be responsible for as many as four different break-ins.

One video obtained by police and CTV News clearly shows the two men break in, remove a cash drawer with all of four dollars and then slowly walk away from the NAPA Autopro along Mill Street.

“On December 31st at about 4:00 a.m. we began receiving several calls for break and enters in the area of Mill Street in Essa. Several businesses were broken into and then another slue of break-ins occurred that same night at about midnight” said Const. Mckayla Cotey with the OPP.

The suspect used some sort of weapon to smash the $1,800 front door window at the business. The two suspects are then seen casually walking away.

The duo is believed to have hit several other nearby stores, including the Ultramar gas bar just down the road.

Jason Ji has owned and operated the gas bar for 12 years and has never had this happen before. His store also captured the suspects trying to get in.

“My son was here working at the backroom, and he heard the sound of breaking window noise and he went out and saw hands come in through the broken window and tried to open the doorway,” said Ji.

A deadbolt lock prevented the suspects from gaining entry.

The owners of Yes Nails - also just down the road - were not so lucky.

The thieves used a rake of some sort to smash the window before getting away with some cash left in the register.

“They took my appointment book, my receipts from my customers. Any idea why they would want that?” asked owner Doan Dhu. “A calculator whatever from my desk they took. What ever they saw they grabbed.”

“In the evening there was a cash register taken with approximately $500, so it appears they may be targeting the cash registers at this time,” said Cotey. “The entire cash register was taken.”

While police continue to go through all of the video surveillance from the stores impacted, they are asking homeowners and business owners in the area to go through any video surveillance they may have just in case they captured something that may help in the investigation.