Second man jailed after ATMs ripped out in daring crime spree

KITCHENER — A second man has been convicted and jailed in a brazen crime spree that cost businesses more than $1 million.

Over two months in 2016, under cover of darkness, an organized group of thieves stole trucks from local dealerships and smashed them through windows in a string of businesses, many in Kitchener.

They chained ATMs to the backs of the trucks, dragged out the cash machines and took the money.

Arif Mohamed, 26, began his jail term Tuesday even though he has yet to be formally sentenced. Mohamed indicated he wants to conclude his jail sentence as soon as possible, however long it is.

He’s scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 23 when the prosecution and defence argue before a judge.

Seven Kitchener residents were charged last August. The first conviction was in June when Johnny Nguyen, 25, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to the equivalent of one year in jail for break-ins and thefts and possessing stolen goods over $5,000.

The total cost of the crimes was pegged at $1.4 million, but only $72,490 of this was cash stolen from ATMs. The largest loss was $870,000 in stolen vehicles, followed by $387,120 in damage caused and $114,300 in cash and property stolen during break-ins.

In total, police alleged the group members committed 80 crimes in southern Ontario, including 53 crimes in Waterloo Region.

Local targets included the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Fairview Park mall, the Stampede Corral and an Elmira gas station. At the Aud, thieves smashed a Jeep pickup truck through side doors and ripped two ATMs from the floor.