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Video footage shows armed robber prowling north end business

Oct 29, 2018 | 3:31 PM

The president of a north Red Deer business broken into by an armed suspect last week is deeply concerned that the safety of his employees was put at risk.

“It’s very frustrating and concerning that an individual broke into our facility with a rifle while we had an employee in the building,” Frank Massner of MAS-Pro Oilfield Supply tells rdnewsNOW.

Red Deer RCMP responded at about 7:50 a.m. on October 25 to area of 49 Avenue and 78 Street after a staff member at a hydraulics business interrupted a break and enter in progress. The suspect reportedly pointed a sawed-off shotgun at the staff member before fleeing on foot. The suspect was wearing a black and orange motorcycle helmet.

RCMP contained the area and searched for the suspect with assistance from Police Dog Services, but did not locate him.

Prior to that, Massner says the suspect spent over an hour in their yard (4841 78 St.) Thursday morning.

 

Video footage shared with rdnewsNOW by MAS-Pro Oilfield Supply

 

Contrary to the initial reports that the suspect was carrying a sawed-off shotgun, security footage shows he was carrying a long-barrelled firearm with a scope. The footage also shows him wearing the black and orange motorcycle helmet Massner says was taken from a trailer on his company’s compound.

“These crimes are happening on a regular basis and are very time consuming and costly. Material and property can be fixed or replace, but for us to have an employee to be put in possible harm’s way because of someone’s actions is concerning and worrisome.”

Massner says his company just completed a renovation on its facility and is in the process up setting up an expansion plan. He feels they went above and beyond to secure their facility but some criminals just won’t be deterred.

“We are taking action to reduce any future possible incident can happen, but it is impossible to 100 per cent eliminate these threats,” he feels. “At this point we hope the public can help with identifying this individual to have them brought to justice so they cannot do this again.”

Mounties continue to search for the suspect involved in last Thursday’s incident. It’s believed he stole a black 2007 Acura from another business in the area.

Anyone with information can call Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.