Police arrest man after rooftop HVAC units stripped of metal

Winnipeg police have arrested a man accused of stripping out and stealing metal from heating, ventilation and air conditioning units on the rooftops of more than a dozen local businesses and churches in recent months.

The thefts caused about $500,000 in damages, the Winnipeg Police Service said Wednesday.

The thief damaged HVAC units on at least 14 rooftops across the city from Jan. 22 and March 9, police said. In the middle of the spree, on Feb. 6, police said the thief stole an SUV parked on Sherbrook Avenue to use during the thefts.

Property crime investigators identified a suspect and soon learned he had gone to metal scrap yards around Winnipeg at least 28 times to sell stolen metal, police said.

RCMP officers arrested Christopher Sawatzky, 35, on Monday in St. Andrews on an outstanding warrant and handed him over to Winnipeg property crime investigators.

He’s been charged with 12 counts each of theft over $5,000 and mischief over $5,000 and two counts each of theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. He was also charged on a warrant for assault, uttering threats and a court order breach.

He was held in custody.