Bear Clan hit by thieves; donated jackets stolen

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This article was published 03/01/2024 (664 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than 50 donated winter jackets that were to be handed out to needy Winnipeggers during this week’s anticipated cold snap have been stolen from the Bear Clan Patrol’s North End location.

“It’s unfortunate, because we had probably at least 10 bags of donated jackets that we were getting ready for the cold winter period. That’s why we had them stashed as we did; by people going in there and taking them, that’s just taking from the community,” said executive director Kevin Walker.

On New Year’s Day, thieves went through a vent on the side of the building and cut through the wall into the Bear Clan office at 584 Selkirk Ave.

It marked the second or third time that thieves broke through the wall and was the latest in a handful of break-ins over the past month and a half, said Walker.

The neighbourhood patrol group had planned to give out the men’s and women’s outerwear during regular foot patrols.

Bear Clan logo T-shirts for volunteers, freezer jackets for volunteers, flashlights, radios, first-aid kits and other patrol equipment were also stolen.

Walker said the organization couldn’t afford a security system at its Selkirk Avenue location. The Bear Clan has since moved everything of value out of that location and plans to run patrols out of 190 Disraeli Fwy. Patrols start from 190 Disraeli Saturday and Sunday, and they’ll continue despite the thefts, Walker said.

“We’re trying to rebuild from that. Getting hit like we did… it’s not only the donations of the jackets, it’s all the patrol equipment… that we need for running patrol in the wintertime at night,” he said.

The Bear Clan is accepting donations of warm winter gear — mitts and hand-warmers are needed the most — and money.

“It’s an unfortunate event right now that it happened, especially during this time with the cold weather coming upon us. So I just want to tell people that we’re still operating and we would gladly take donations… to help rebuild our equipment base,” Walker said.

Walker said he believed several Selkirk Avenue businesses were hit by thieves and he doesn’t think the Bear Clan was targeted.

The Winnipeg Police Service didn’t confirm whether it has launched an investigation into break-ins at 584 Selkirk or any business in the area.

For information on how to donate or to arrange a drop-off of donations at the Bear Clan Disraeli location, check its website at: bearclanpatrol.org

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca