Police in Winnipeg have arrested a 35-year-old man after a string of break-ins and vandalism on Saturday morning that left several households and a school with smashed windows and roughly $25,000 in damage.
Residents confronted intruder in Crescentwood
Investigators say the incidents took place in the 100 block of Kingsway Avenue, in the Crescentwood area. Among those affected was Mark Wasyliw, the independent MLA for the Fort Garry riding, who was asleep at home when he was startled by a loud crash.
“There was a man with his head sticking through the hole and he was talking gibberish ... started asking, demanding, for alcohol,”
Wasyliw told reporters he encountered a person whose head protruded through a broken window and who was demanding alcohol and pointing at items inside the house. The MLA says the suspect then hurled concrete through another window before leaving the house.
Multiple properties and a school damaged
Police determined that six residences and a high school were struck during the incident. In several cases, residents were confronted and threatened as rocks and bricks were used to break glass doors and windows. Items were taken from some properties, though no one was physically injured.
One of the victims flagged down responding officers and pointed out a man walking on the street. Police say the suspect was briefly in possession of a broken liquor bottle, which he dropped before officers arrested him without further incident.
Charges laid
The accused, now in custody, faces a slate of charges tied to the morning’s events. According to police, the charges include multiple counts of breaking and entering as well as offences linked to threats and weapons.
| Alleged offences | Count(s) |
|---|---|
| Breaking and entering | 7 |
| Assault with a weapon | 1 |
| Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm | 1 |
| Failure to comply with release conditions | 1 |
Police have said the suspect did not appear to know the victims and that the investigation remains ongoing.
Community reaction and safety reminders
Neighbours in the area described a chaotic morning as glass shattered and residents called 911. City councillors and neighbourhood groups often urge homeowners to take basic security measures, and police reiterated that anyone who witnesses suspicious activity should contact emergency services immediately.
- Report suspicious persons or activity to 911 immediately.
- Secure doors and windows; consider motion-sensor lighting and visible house numbers for faster emergency response.
- Keep a record of valuable items and consider photography for insurance and police reporting.
Officers continue to canvass the area and to follow up on leads. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact Winnipeg police. Police messages often note that seemingly small details — a vehicle description, the time someone was seen in the area, or footage from doorbell cameras — can be vital to an investigation.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about daytime criminal activity in residential districts and brought attention to the vulnerability of both private homes and public institutions such as schools to opportunistic vandalism. For now, residents are left dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath: boarded windows, property loss and the reminder that such events can occur in otherwise quiet neighbourhoods.
City and police officials have not announced further measures beyond the arrest and ongoing investigation. Court dates and additional details about the accused’s identity and prior history will be released through regular judicial and police channels in due course.
Reporting on the scene, community members said they hope swift police work and community vigilance will deter similar incidents in the future.
