It has been close to half a year since Amy Wang and her spouse could reopen their Scarborough convenience store, where they previously labored for long hours each day. They fell victim to an unusual smash-and-grab incident involving an excavator attempting to steal an ATM from the Scotiabank branch nearby. The store’s roof was crushed, and the storefront collapsed, leaving their primary source of income in ruins.
Despite the thieves’ failure to escape with any cash, they caused over $600,000 in damages to the plaza. This form of theft, using excavators to break into banks, has been occurring in various locations in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Reports suggest at least six similar incidents in the past year.
With no charges laid yet, police mention a recurring network of suspects behind multiple thefts in the GTA involving heavy machinery. While such methods are not common, there has been a rise in using large vehicles, including excavators, to break into storefronts.
Although the bank branch has resumed operations post the June incident, Wang’s store is still under reconstruction. The ordeal forced her husband to seek temporary employment. Wang aims to reopen the store before Christmas but remains anxious about another potential attack, frequently monitoring security cameras overnight for peace of mind.
Regarding the ease of stealing excavators, Tim Allan, an expert from Centennial College, explains that these machines can be operated with a master key available online. Furthermore, he highlights the challenge of escaping with an excavator due to its limited speed. Companies could enhance security by installing internal systems, but many find it impractical to manage numerous keys for multiple machines.
Despite outreach attempts to affected companies, no responses were received before the deadline. The Canadian Bankers Association emphasized the impact of such crimes on communities and pledged cooperation with law enforcement to safeguard operations and customers.
The situation underscores the need for enhanced security measures to deter such incidents and protect businesses and communities from the repercussions.