Vehicle slams through doors at Max Bell Centre

CALGARY – Police are investigating after a minivan drove through the front doors of the Max Bell Centre on Friday.

Investigators were called to the arena in the 1000 block of Barlow Trail S.E. around 6 a.m.

“It had appeared to have smashed through the first two sets of doors and attempted to dislodge an ATM machine from the bolts,” says Acting Sgt. Kevin Collins.

The van, still running, was left high-centred on the ATM.

“That’s why there’s a big hole in the floor, they never even put it out of gear. He just sat there, and there was black tire rubbings all the way up the wall,” says Terry McCormick.

McCormick has been a skate sharpener with Esporta Maxbell for over 15 years. In that time, he has seen three attempted ATM lootings. In one instance, the perpetrators actually cut the machine in half.

Interac Canada says ATM security is based on the owner’s discretion.

The City of Calgary says they plan to build cement barriers at Max Bell to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Police don’t yet have any suspects but are looking into surveillance video from the scene.