ALBERTA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20130126/SAG0801/301269983/-1/sag0801/cash-computers-stolen-from-mission-mall

Cash, computers stolen from Mission mall

Mission Ridge Shopping Centre targeted by thieves

By: Megan Sarrazin

  |  Posted: Saturday, Jan 26, 2013 06:00 am

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Thieves made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and computers in a weekend break-in at the Mission Ridge Shopping Centre.

St. Albert Further Education and the St. Albert Yoga Centre, both second-floor businesses at the 86 McKenney Ave. shopping complex, were broken into overnight Friday night.

“It was discovered when a business went to open at 9 a.m.” on Saturday, said St. Albert RCMP Cpl. Laurel Kading.

RCMP have no suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

Armella Gulley, executive director of St. Albert Further Education, said Mac computers were stolen from the business’ second-floor unit. She did not reveal how many computers were taken.

“We’re scrambling to try and get replacement computers. We can’t operate unless we have our computers,” she said. “It’s put us at a standstill.”

Gulley said she does not believe any personal information was stored on the computers.

The business also suffered extensive cabinet damage, which Gulley said was the result of being pried open.

Representatives from St. Albert Yoga Centre did not respond to requests for an interview.

Carol Smith, owner of Therassage Clinic Inc., said the thief or thieves attempted to break into her second-floor unit, but were unsuccessful.

“There’s screwdriver marks on our door,” she said, adding the same marks appear on the door to an empty unit down the hall.

Cheryl Verstraete, owner of Vibrational Body Matrix, said she was lucky, as the suspects didn’t gain access to her business.

“Nothing happened in my office, but I notice that they did try to get in,” she said. “There’s chips out of the door frame because they were trying to pick the dead bolt.”

She said business owners in the complex are struggling to determine how people are gaining access to the building.

“I feel safe here, but we’re just trying to figure out how the heck this is happening,” Verstraete said, adding it is the second time the building has been broken into. “I’m wondering if people are hiding in the washroom at night and then they’ve got access.”

Kading confirmed another weekend break-in occurred in June of 2011. At that time, second-floor businesses were targeted.

“The method of entry might have been slightly different, but that’s not always saying it’s different people,” she said.

In response to that break-in, management at Mission Ridge Shopping Centre placed metal plates on most doors and changed the locking mechanism to enter the building.

Melissa Hutchings, property manager with Humford Management Inc., declined to comment on the break-ins, citing privacy issues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700.