NNSL (Mar 18/98) - The soft-drink machine bandits may have taken off for the West Coast. Two men, aged 25 and 21, have been identified by the RCMP as the culprits in 19 pop machine thefts. But they have already left town.

The duo reportedly accumulated about $4,000 from their pilfering or city soft-drink vending machines. As well, they have cost machines' owners, Territorial Beverages and Petersen Auger, thousands of dollars in damage to their property.

Roger Walker, manager of Peterson Auger, acknowledged that the ordeal has been frustrating. He now has employees emptying the machines more frequently in an effort to deny the thieves more loot.

The men face charges of mischief for offences that took place between Feb. 16 and March 14.

"We've got strong evidence on some of the thefts and vandalism," RCMP Const. Cliff McKay said.

The charges stem from police search at a residence on 45th Street Sunday. However, it was later determined that the suspects have left the NWT for Vancouver.

A nation-wide warrant has been issued for their arrest, according to McKay.

The men apparently used a power tool to disable the pop machines' lock and stole the coins inside.

"It can be done quite easily and quickly," McKay said.

So quickly and easily was the operation carried out that other thieves may have caught on already. While it is believed that the primary suspects left town last Friday, another vending machine break-in occurred after they were likely en route.

"It's possible they have friends or associates that they gave their techniques to," McKay speculated.