Thieves target Bitcoin machine in business break-in

Nov 19, 2019 | 1:02 PM

It was all caught on video.

Masked men break into Simply Delicious

Simply Delicious, a natural health food store on 31st Avenue, was broken into overnight, with the target of the vandals a Bitcoin machine.

“Around 4 a.m., two masked men with sledgehammers busted out the glass in the door and proceeded to move forward to the Bitcoin machine with crowbars and busted it open, took the box out and left,” said Troy Roland, store owner.

Roland says the vandals stole about $2,000 in currency, but left another box in the machine worth $50,000.

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“They obviously didn’t know the way the commission was built and which magazines to pull out of it. They took two of the magazines but the third one with the most money, remains.”

Roland said the owner of the Bitcoin machine, Honey Badger, rents the space from his business which he says gets used a lot.

“More than you would realize or think, and that’s why there is that much money in it. There is people that do $30,000 to $40,000 transactions, but a lot of that stuff is happening electronically,” Roland added.

Roland said their door was damaged, but their surveillance system captured the entire incident.

“We got the car, the people, every step they made. We’ve got 16 cameras throughout the facility here.”

He says the RCMP have been to the store to get footprints, fingerprints and other evidence.

Roland, who has owned the bulk and organic foods store for a few years, said it’s the first time he’s aware of, that the store has been broken into in this fashion.

He says he won’t be keeping the Bitcoin machine, concerned it could cause further break-ins.

RCMP say they are actively investigating the incident.

“RCMP responded to an alarm at 3419 31 Ave. in Vernon just after 4 a.m. on Nov. 19,” said Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy. “Officers confirmed there had been a break and enter to the location and it appeared that the Bitcoin machine had been damaged. The matter is still being actively investigated. Anyone with any information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the Vernon RCMP at 250-545-7171. Or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.”

by Pete McIntyre and Tiffany Goodwein

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