Thieves smash into front of store before trying to steal ATM in Port Elgin, N.B.

Thieves smashed up a storefront in Port Elgin, N.B., trying to steal an ATM.

A brazen overnight break-in at the Needs convenience store in Port Elgin, N.B., has left residents shaken and frustrated.

Crews spent Monday morning sweeping up glass and debris after someone smashed their way through the front entrance. An ATM inside the store was found in the middle of the floor on its side — far from where it normally sits — and employees were turning customers away as clean up continued.

The break-in happened at a location many travellers rely on. Port Elgin is a busy stop for people heading to and from P.E.I. near the Confederation Bridge, and locals say the steady flow of traffic adds to their concerns.

Joni Fagen, a long-time resident and school bus driver, says she first noticed the damage online.

“I noticed it on Facebook first thing this morning because we always check to make sure there’s school,” she said. “When I came down, the whole front of the building was smashed in. There was glass and beer bottles — a little bit of everything — everywhere.”

Fagen says crime in the area has been more noticeable in recent months.

“It makes all of us feel uneasy,” she said. “There’s people travelling through here every day. We don’t know who we can trust and who not to.”

Sobeys, which owns the Needs store, declined to comment.

The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.

Employees were still cleaning up the damage late Monday morning. It’s not yet clear what, if anything, was taken or whether police have identified a suspect.

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