Waterloo Regional Police say seven people are facing 68 charges following a string of ATM thefts earlier this year.

Police say the losses from the thefts included $870,000 in stolen vehicles, $72,490 in cash stolen from ATMs, $114,300 in cash and property stolen during break-ins, and $387,120 in damage to commercial businesses.

All seven people are from Kitchener.

Police said the same group of people are responsible for approximately 80 separate break and enters to commercial and residential locations throughout the province.

Of those 80, 53 were in Waterloo region. Police forces in the Niagara region, London, Stratford and Toronto were also involved in the investigation.

Some of the more high-profile break-ins occurred at the Kitchener Auditorium, Fairview Park Mall, Stampede Corral in Kitchener and The Manor strip club in Guelph.

Vehicles stolen then dumped

"The vehicles were taken from dealerships, also repair shops, and then used to extract the ATMs from local businesses," Alana Russell of Waterloo Regional Police told CBC News.

She added the vehicles were abandoned after the ATM heists.

Local investigators took the lead for the investigation and Russell said it was their dedication that led to charges being laid.

"This particular occurrence would require some detail and some co-ordination and we believe these individuals were working together, not only in Waterloo region, but in these other areas," she said.

"It's really a result of the excellent police work and commitment of the investigators that have been able to bring this to a conclusion."

Arrests between April and July

The seven people were arrested between April and July, police said. All have been charged with break and enter, motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, dangerous driving, theft under $5,000, obstructing police and mischief over $5,000.

Those charged are: Redwan Hussein, 20; Musie Ghebremichael, 21; Fasal Mushtaq, 22; Cathy Phandanuvong, 23; Johnny Nguyen, 24; Leutrim Aliu, 25; and Arif Mohamed, 25.

All are from Kitchener.