Man charged in commercial property theft spree

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This article was published 28/12/2022 (1336 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A break-and-enter suspect — who came to police attention following a car crash and foot chase in Sage Creek earlier this month — has been charged with stealing more than a dozen vehicles and high-end pieces of equipment.

The 40-year-old male, who had been released on bail after his Dec. 19 arrest for break and enter, theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime and other offences, is back in custody facing additional charges, the Winnipeg Police Service said Wednesday.

Police spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said he could not speak to the motive behind the string of thefts, including whether police believe the suspect was reselling or breaking down the vehicles and equipment.

However, he said, it’s uncommon to see a single suspect accused in such a long string of high-value thefts.

“In these combined cases, we’re looking at a total estimated over $140,000. It’s a lot of money involved here,” Chancy said.

“It’s concerning to us.”

The man is accused of using a previously stolen 2001 Dodge Ram pickup truck to pilfer a boat, trailers and a John Deere tractor from a business on the first 100 block of Melnick Road on Nov. 6.

Police allege the man stole a flatbed trailer loaded with a 1996 Toyota Tacoma truck from a business on the 3900 block of Portage Avenue on Dec. 2.

Between Dec. 16 and 17, the man is accused of returning to the business on Melnick Road and breaking into a shed, taking keys to a vehicle parked on the property before stealing a pickup truck and utility trailer loaded with two snowmobiles.

On Dec. 18, he’s accused of breaking into a storage unit on the first 100 block of Creek Bend Road. A security guard intervened and the suspect fled.

Between Dec. 18 and 19, the suspect is accused of stealing a utility trailer loaded with a lawnmower and John Deere utility vehicle.

The man was first arrested on Dec. 19 after allegedly attempting to steal a construction vehicle from the business on Melnick Road.

An employee followed the suspect in a vehicle; the suspect allegedly rammed the other vehicle, police said. The suspect left his vehicle stranded in the snow and took off running through a field, police said.

He resisted arrest and officers used a Taser electroshock weapon on him, according to police.

As part of their investigation, police executed a search warrant at the suspect’s home on the 2400 block of Wenzel Street in East St. Paul.

The man has since been charged with five additional break-and-enter-related offences and two counts of theft over $5,000. He remains in custody.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera