Tips from the public as well as peace officers from around the province have helped Stettler RCMP potentially identify two men who were captured on surveillance breaking into Stettler's Canadian Tire store last week.
"We're not ready to comment on (the case)," Stettler RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Phil Penny said.
The break-in happened around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10. The two suspects arrived in a white Ford minivan and broke into the store, before making off with an unknown amount of property. The van in question was in visibly rough condition, with rust and peeled paint in several places.
While no arrest has been made at this time, Penny said police are searching for the two men tentatively identified from the video to continue the investigation.
Penny said that since the information was released mid-week last week, tips have come in to the detachment. He expressed his gratitude to the public for their support in this matter.
Joel Barrette, owner of Stettler's Canadian Tire, said it was "never a fun thing" to have a business broken into. He and his staff are still doing inventory to determine their losses, a task made difficult by how the thieves operated once inside the business.
He was, however, happy with the response from police.
"They were very quick to respond," Barrette said. "They were very thorough and very professional, and we were very happy with how they have handled matters thus far."
There was some damage done to the store when the thieves broke in, Barrette confirmed, but he said he didn't want to say too much while the investigation is ongoing.
"I don't want to interfere with the police's work," he said. "I trust their ability."
Both men are Caucasian and appear to be in their 30s-40s; one was wearing a brown jacket over a navy blue hoodie, and a blue hat; the other was wearing a blue jacket over a red shirt.