Local Esso robbed at gunpoint, owner reeling from loss
It was a scene from a horror movie when Esso gas station owner Will Brown arrived at his property in the early hours of Friday, Sept. 20.
At approximately 4 a.m. that morning, four suspects wearing gloves and masks made entry to the Tofield Esso by ramming the business with a vehicle, according to Tofield RCMP.
One suspect armed with a firearm ordered two employees to another room while they attempted to secure a tow strap to the ATM.
“I can’t still fathom the scale of devastation and the losses my business has incurred,” said Brown, who is the property owner leasing the space to the newly-opened Tim Hortons in town. “This is a great community but for a business like ours to thrive we need full patrols after dark, from dusk to dawn; not on calls. There should be extra patrols on businesses like ours opened till late.”
The Tim Hortons, which operates till midnight had staff come in early on Friday to prepare for the day when the suspects attacked.
RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the four suspects involved in the “brazen attempt” to remove the ATM from the gas station.
