'Significant damage' after early morning convenience store robberies

Broken glass appears in a stock photo.

The Guelph Police Service is investigating two convenience store break-ins where they say large quantities of cigarettes were stolen and significant damage was done.

Police say they were called to a business near Arkell Road and Victoria Road South around 2 a.m. Sunday.

“An employee had responded to an alarm call to find the front window smashed and drawers on the sidewalk outside,” police said in a media release. “Surveillance video showed three males arriving in a white Jeep SUV. One had a sledgehammer or similar object which was used to smash the front window. The cigarette cabinet was broken into and the drawers removed so their contents could be emptied into the Jeep.”

According to police, the suspects were also able to break into an ATM and remove an unknown amount of cash.

Just after 9 a.m. that same day, officers were called to a business near Fife Road and Elmira Road South after an employee arrived to discover a break-in.

“Investigation revealed the store was entered shortly after 1 a.m. The front door was pried open and a padlock cut off an internal security gate,” police said.

Several shelves of cigarettes were reportedly cleaned out and the suspects also caused significant damage to a counter to access the store’s safe.

Police say it’s not known if the two incidents are related.

Anyone with information about the first incident is asked to call Constable Michael Doehn at 519-824-1212, ext. 7587 or email [e-mail].

Anyone with information about the second one is asked to call Constable Carson Skipper at 519-824-1212, ext. 7283 or email [e-mail].