Winnipeg police believe a group of youths — including a nine-year-old — are responsible for an after-hours break-in at a West End retail shop and a nearby arson early Thursday.
Patrol officers were called to the break-in of the Dollarama on Ellice Avenue near Strathcona Street at about 1 a.m.
A group of youths smashed the front window, broke items inside and made off with merchandise, police allege.
About 30 minutes later, police were again called about a group who set a fire inside a gazebo at the rear of an apartment on the nearby 1000 block of Sargent Avenue.
Officers, along with a police dog, found a group of youngsters on the 500 block of Spence Street and arrested them.
Four boys, 12, 13, 14 and 14, will be charged with break and enter and arson. All were released on undertakings to an adult.
The nine-year-old, who is too young to be charged criminally under Canadian law, was released to an adult.
Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon wasn’t immediately able to confirm the nine-year-old’s gender, after reviewing conflicting police reports.
“We know that youth crime is on the rise … however, nine is pushing the envelope, nine is too young,” she said.
“But if you’re hanging out in a high-risk group that are already getting in trouble with the law, you’re bound to get associated with those problems as well.”
The nine-year-old was referred to the provincial justice department Turnabout program, McKinnon said.
Turnabout is for kids who are behaving in a way that would result in criminal charges if they were 12 or older, or who are at risk of coming into contact with the law.
It works with caregivers to address underlying issues and aims to connect kids to community resources.
McKinnon said some members of the group had been reported missing in the hours previous.
“They obviously have people that are concerned for them and their whereabouts, but they’ve managed to elude their parents or their caregivers,” she said.
McKinnon said the nine-year-old will have the potential to move in a more positive direction after participating in Turnabout.
Winnipeg police statistics indicate 77 kids under 12 were accused of committing what would amount to crimes if they had been old enough to be charged last year.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik Pindera
Reporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
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