The following is the Winkler Police Service report for the period of August 15 to 21, 2016, as submitted by the department.

Our police service opened 84 files for the week. The following are some of those files.

August 15th:     At approximately 6:21 p.m., a resident of Willow Drive reported seeing an unfamiliar male youth enter his neighbour’s home.  While en route to the call, the caller called back to advise that the same suspicious
person had exited the house, walked a few doors further and entered another house.  Officers arrived as the suspect was leaving the second house.  The male youth, age 15, was subsequently arrested for Break and Enter, and searched.  The search produced a cell phone which was traced to the owner. Further investigation determined that the phone was stolen from a residence on Crystal Crescent.  The youth was charged with Break, Enter and Theft (x1), Break, Enter with Intent (x2), and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (x2).  He was released to his mother.

August 18th:    A resident of Rosenfeld Manitoba who was victimized by the Canada Revenue Agency iTunes gift card scam attended Winkler to purchase the cards.  After purchasing the first set of cards at Walmart as directed, the man followed further instructions to attend the Superstore to purchase more.  Staff at the Superstore recognized the scam and alerted the potential victim as well as our officers who attended. Thank you to the staff at the Superstore.

August 18th:    At 7:04 p.m., the Regional Support Tactical Team executed a warrant to search for Methamphetamine at an apartment of the Greensview Estates on 15th Street.  Four persons were located and arrested inside the apartment.  Seized during the search were small amounts of methamphetamine and marihuana, and drug paraphernalia including a weigh scale and a large quantity of unused gram bags used for packaging.  Samantha Simone LaPorte, age 37, is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Marihuana, and Breaching an Undertaking Given to a Peace Officer (x2).  Sergio Elias Cruz, age 18, is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Marihuana and Breaching a Recognizance(x3).  Both were transported to the Remand facilities in Winnipeg to await court appearances on Monday August 22nd.  The remaining two occupants of the apartment were released without charges.

August 20th:    At 11:30 p.m., a call was received from a homeowner on Summerfield Drive who stated he just received a call from his teenage son reporting an intruder in their home.  Officers responded immediately and searched the home to find that the single intruder had left the house.  The son reported hearing a loud noise in the house and when he went to investigate, observed a male standing at the top of the stairs leading to the basement.  He then gathered his siblings and entered a room where they locked the door. It appears the intruder entered through an unlocked door.  Nothing was reported stolen. There are currently no substantiated suspects, with the investigation ongoing.

August 21st:    A long distance truck driver called to report his Chevrolet pickup truck stolen from a George Avenue business lot in Winkler.  The trucker, still away on a trip, learned of the theft after receiving a call from the Morden Police service advising his truck was used in a “gas and dash” in Morden.  The truck has not been recovered to date and officers from both police services are working together to solve the crimes.

As well this week, we executed two outstanding arrest warrants, investigated eight complaints of Theft Under $5000, attended two disputes, and assisted a variety of other agencies in numerous capacities.

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